We were allowed to be part of a crucial meeting concerning the implementation of MNREGA scheme in the district.

A number of new secretaries were being made aware of their tasks and these new employees in turn were giving a brief about their work done so far. The CO (Deputy Collector) told everyone about the rising administrative cost that comprises 7.5% of the total allocated budget. Due to the induction of new secretaries this cost is supposed to rise to approximately 10.5% of the total budget. There were discussions about ways to reduce this administrative cost to a level of 6%. One of the prime measures that were agreed upon was to part ways with some of the non-performing employees. A lot of senior officials expressed discontent to the quality and quantity of work performed by some of the new secretaries and they were asked to give a report for the same. We discussed the inefficiency of the system in transferring funds from the centre to the state to the district that serves as the prime blockhead in the implementation of development schemes in districts at the lower level. Visit to the Bhimbetka rock shelter It is an archaeological World Heritage site located in Raisen District in the state of Madhya Pradesh. The Bhimbetka shelters exhibit the earliest traces of human life in India and deliver traces of dance from prehistoric times. a number of analyses suggest that at least some of these shelters were inhabited by hominids like homo erectus more than 100,000 years ago. The name Bhimbetka is associated with Bhima, a hero-deity renowned for his immense strength, from the epic Mahabharata. The word Bhimbetka is said to derive from Bhimbaithka, meaning "sitting place of Bhima". Visit to the Bhojraj Temple The temple houses one of the largest lingas in India, 5.5m tall and 2.3m in circumference. It is crafted out a single rock. The building is under the protection of the Archaeological Survey of India. The building as it stands consists of the inner cella or garbhagha, supported by massive pillars, surmounted with an elegant corbelled dome. The outer walls and superstructure of the temple were never built. The style of the sculpture on the building confirms an early to mid-eleventh century date for the structure. Visit to Obdullahganj Janpad We interacted with the CO of Obdullahganj district to learn about the intricacies of a number of government schemes and policies, the status of their implementation and the problems being faced. We learnt about some of the concerned officials related to these schemes and understood their roles, powers and process of being elected for the job. We even got to raise our doubts to the CO who very gently responded to all our queries. A major chunk of our discussion focussed on the shortcomings associated with the MNREGA scheme and its implementations such as a.) issue of fake muster rolls and bills being generated

b.) Workers are moving away from their main activity, agriculture and are digging pits and ponds of inaccurate dimensions that dry out fast c.) There is no provision for the maintenance of structures build up under this scheme