Central governments flagship National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme (NREGS) is set for an overhaul with the rural development ministry deciding to channelise the workforce for much more focused and productive goals.

The NREGS workers now will be used in increasing agricultural production and water security in the rural areas with the focus shifting from employment guarantee to durable asset creations.

“The large workforce that has till now been digging earth (mostly) and getting paid the average wage fixed by the state for 100 days in an year will now be involved in work that ensures growth in agricultural production and water security,” said a senior official in the ministry.

The decision to shift gears in terms of asset creation comes after 4 years of the implementation of the act in 2006. In these four years the governments focus was more on providing employment to the unskilled labour for 100 days in a year to help him sustain his family and check migration from the villages to the cities.

Experts associated with the scheme endorse the shift of focus on to asset creation.

“The NREGS workforce, till now had been largely working on rural connectivity making roads. Involving them in agricultural production and water conservation will be much better than digging up earth without any purpose,” said Parshuram Rai, of Centre for Environment and Food Security.

Some states like Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka have already been doing this; engaging the workers in horticulture and plantation.

According to Yash Shethia of Foundation for Ecological Security, the focus, till now, was employing the workers on the common land, now they will be directed on the agricultural land. “I would not call it a major shift. However adding layers to the scheme is certainly a good idea,” he said.