CC Issue No.70-Jun 12

Consultants’ Corner Volume 5 | Number 70 | June 2012 | Page 1– 12

Management Consultancy Profession – Action needed Page. 03

Ashok Rao

An overview of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme Page. 04

NCR Consultants Limited www.ncrcl.com Associates with

Our Mission is to apply our professional capabilities with a holistic approach for the happiness of clients, through values and social commitment.

An overview of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee

Inside

Scheme The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme is a central government scheme and is by far the largest scheme targeting rural poverty in the country…….

-read more...page 4

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Message from Dr. RSM

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An overview of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme

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The Law of Forced Efficiency - Focusing On the Most Important Things

7 Thoughts and Actions 8 The Taste of Life 8 What‟s up at NCRCL? 9 An Exclusive Talk 10 Parichay 11 Knowledge Snippet 11 Birthday Greetings 11 Just for Laughs 11 Round Table The Law of Forced Efficiency - Focusing On the Most Important Things This law says that, "There is never enough time to do everything, but there is always enough time to do the most important thing…... read more..page 6

The Taste of Life read more..page 8

An Exclusive talk with Sathya Thoughts and Actions

see more..page 9

My thoughts began reflecting on the journey of my life. I have been given instructions as also friendly advices by all and sundry right from when I was a child about patriotism ………..

Parichay 4SPL Technologies India Pvt. Ltd. see more..page 10

read more..page 7

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Management Consultancy Profession – Action needed Dr. R. S. Murali muralirs@ncrcl.com

The consulting industry is undergoing a major change. From the traditional role of advisor, the role of management consultant has expanded to include delivery at the client‟s premises now. The influx of outsourcing as a management culture has also added its bit resulting in making consultants a part of the line function. This is like the snake eating its own tail. While delivery is the ultimate thing in consulting, should the consultant be part of the client‟s delivery system? The issue is: should the consultant design the delivery? should the consultant supervise the delivery? Or should the consultant deliver himself. The reality seems to be migrating from the first mentioned to the last. In our part of the world, consulting is slowly becoming an outsourced service delivery; this trend is neither good for the consultants nor the clients.

The global trends and discussions on management consultancy centre around aspects like: knowledge creation, models of consulting, research methods to improve consulting practice, IT based tools for consulting, innovation in management consulting, do‟s and don‟ts for success in consultancy, documentation methods for consultancy, knowledge transfer mechanisms for ensuring consultancy quality, and so on. In India, except for a very few consultancy organizations, most of the consultancy organizations in India do not strategize the way they need to take their organizations ahead. This is a major gap.

Some methods to bridge such gaps, from a long term perspectives are:  Creating awareness about management consultancy as a profession – to be done by institutions such as the Institute of Management Consultants of India (IMCI), All India Management Association (AIMA), Consultancy Development Centre (CDC), etc.  Introducing management consultancy as a specialization in course programmes like MBA, CA, etc. – universities, management institutes, etc.  Creating a standard for consultancy quality – certification like the CMC – Certified Management Consultant IMCI should promote this further  Books on Management Consultancy – with particular reference to Indian industrial scenario – people from industry to take initiative more than the academicians  Journal on Management Consultancy – even at the global level, the journals on management consultancy are very less and in India there is practically none.

There is a whole new way that these major issues need to be addressed. There are definitely several other related issues that need attention. Even executives in well established and large organizations do not clearly understand the role of management consultancy professionals. At NCRCL, we are sensitive to these issues, but there is a strong need now to network ourselves with similar organizations and the splintered groups of individual consultants to strengthen the profession of Management Consultancy in India.

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An overview of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme CA Ashok Rao ashok@ncrcl.com

What is the MGNREGA Scheme?

The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme is a central government scheme and is by far the largest scheme targeting rural poverty in the country.

The scheme is framed under The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (and hence the acronym MGNREGA) and aims at enhancing the livelihood security of people in rural areas by guaranteeing hundred days of wage-employment in a financial year to a rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.

Objectives of MGNREGA The primary objective of MGNREGA is to provide a safety net to reduce migration by rural poor households in the lean period. This is done by guaranteeing a hundred days of unskilled manual labour at minimum wage for each household on the one hand and taking up works that address causes of chronic poverty on the other such as drought, deforestation and soil erosion.

Key elements of MGNREGA Emerging out of the above stated objectives are two key elements of MGNREGA, namely: 1. Identification of adult members from rural households willing to do unskilled work, assigning them job cards, assignment of works and payment of wages at approved rates; and 2. Identification and approval of eligible works to be taken up and their execution.

The entitlement of 100 days of guaranteed employment in a financial year is for the household as a whole. This entitlement can be shared within the household by more than one person.

Application for job card

Approval of shelf of projects

How is MGNREGA different?

What distinguishes MGNREGA from all previous rural public works programmes is that it promises work on demand not when government decides to provide work. MGNREGA provides that if you are not provided work within 15 days of applying for work, you will be paid an unemployment allowance. The scheme also accords centrality to Grama Panchayats (a Grama Panchayat is the authority at the village level) to plan works to meet the demand for employment.

MGNREGA – The working The processes to be followed are detailed in the operational guidelines of the MGNREGA scheme. A broad overview of the processes is shown in the exhibit alongside. While one set of processes deal with allotment of job cards, another set of processes deal with identification of works to be executed. Both the processes culminate with allocation of work and payment of wages to the beneficiaries.

Verification Preparation of estimates Issue of job card

Demand for employment

Approval of estimates

Work allocation

Maintenance of muster roll Payment of wages contd on next page

Among the great things which are to be found among us, the Being of Nothingness is the greatest.

- Leonardo Da Vinci

Consultants’ Corner

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MGNREGA Best Practices

MGNREGA in numbers The scheme started in 2005 and since then a 7.3 million number of best practices have emerged out of the Total number of works completed upto 2010-11 implementation experiences across the country.

54.9 million The three critical functions of management of job Employment provided to households in 2010-11 cards, database of works and payment of wages 257 crore have been IT enabled to a large extent. Electronic Total person days generated in 2010-11 payment of wages using smart cards has been Total number of job cards issued in 2010-11 11.24 crore successfully implemented in many states. Usage (Source: Presentation of Minister of RD dated 13th July, 2011) of biometric data for authentication and GIS based planning and monitoring are also being implemented. MGNREGA has also set some benchmarks in transparency with inbuilt provisions like public display of ongoing works details and social audits.

MGNREGA financing pattern Central Government Wages for unskilled manual workers Material costs & labour costs of skilled and semi skilled labour

 75%

Unemployment allowance Administrative costs

State Government

25% 

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Impact of MGNREGA MGNREGA is perhaps the most ambitious rural employment scheme of independent India. The scheme has met with mixed success but has definitely created an impact on rural poverty in India. The scheme has been more successful where people‟s movement and civil society organizations are strong. The scheme has provided a source of income to rural households during the off-peak season. Village level planning of works has ensured better engagement at lower levels. Four areas where MGNREGA has been able to create a positive impact are:  Increase in agricultural wages;  Decline in distress migration;  Increase in cultivated area; and  Water conservation.

While each State has its success stories, Andhra Pradesh has stood out for its systematic and transparent implementation of the MGNREGA. Bottlenecks in implementation While the MGNREGA has certain successes to its credit, it is also plagued by many challenges due to which the outcomes have not been to the extent envisaged. Cases of frauds, misappropriation and other malpractices have been rampant. Delays in payment of wages is another major A library outranks any other one thing a area of concern. Fictitious job cards have also surfaced very often. The quality of assets created under the community can do to benefit its people.

MGNREGA also has been found to be wanting due to It is a never failing spring in the desert. inadequate supervision.

- Andrew Carnegie

Consultants’ Corner

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The Law of Forced Efficiency - Focusing On the Most Important Things C S Suresh sureshcs@nccrcl.com

"What you believe about yourself is what happens to you." "Man is made by his belief. As he believes, so he is." ~ Bhagavad Gita This law says that, "There is never enough time to do everything, but there is always enough time to do the most important thing."

You Always Find the Time : When you run out of time and the consequences for non-completion of a key task or project can be really serious, you always seem to find the time to get it done, often at the very last minute. You start early, you stay late and you drive yourself to complete the job rather than to face the negative consequences that would follow if you didn't get it completed within the time limit. Rule: "There will never be enough time to do everything you have to do."

You Are Already Overwhelmed :The fact is that the average person today is working at 110% to 130% of capacity. And the jobs and responsibilities just keep piling up. Everyone has stacks of reading material they still have to go through.

One study concluded recently that the average executive has 300-400 hours of reading and projects backlogged at home and at the office. What this means is that you will never be caught up. Get that out of your mind. All you can hope for is to be on top of your most important responsibilities. The others will just have to wait.

The Key Question You Should Ask :The key question you should ask is "What is the most valuable use of my time, right now?" This is the question that dominates time management. This is the key to overcoming procrastination and becoming a highly productive person. Every hour of every day, there is an answer to this question. Your job is to ask yourself the question, over and over again, and to always be working on the answer to it, whatever it is. Do first things first and second things not at all. As Goethe said, "The things that matter most must never be at the mercy of the things that matter least."

The more accurate your answers to this question, the easier it will be for you to set clear priorities, to overcome procrastination and to get started on that one activity that represents the most valuable use of your time.

Action Exercises :Take a few minutes each day and sit quietly where you cannot be disturbed. During this time, let your mind relax and just think about your work and activities, without stress or pressure.

In almost every case, during this time of solitude, you will receive wonderful insights and ideas that will save you enormous amounts of time when you apply them back on the job. Often you will experience breakthroughs that will change the direction of your life and work.

The Power of Gratitude : "Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more.

It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.

Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." ~ Melody Beattie Effective Problem Solving : When you think of problems you'll only attract more problems.

When you think of solutions – you'll attract solutions and opportunities.

Approach the problem with the expectant attitude that there is an innovative practical solution just waiting to be found. Be relaxed, confident and clear in your mind.

The Phrase “ I do not have time “ has become a trendy statement. Do not use such phrase often If you are expecting growth in your life.

Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.

- Albert Einstein

Consultants’ Corner Thoughts and Actions Sowmya V Raj sowmya@ncrcl.com

One Sunday Morning……

My thoughts began reflecting on the journey of my life. I have been given instructions as also friendly advices by all and sundry right from when I was a child about patriotism and the love for my country despite what it has to offer me. On a more practical note, I feel God has showered me with goodies when I look at less privileged mortals and like zillion others feel deprived when I look at those seemingly “born with the silver spoon” fortunate individuals. In the initial years I had reconciled to the fact that these situations follow a convention laid out by the Almighty which is neither in one‟s control nor can be influenced. With time and more practical “Gyan”, I realized that the abilities and constraints are limited to physical attributes and honing physical/mental faculties is dependent on individual choices. Further, like almost every Indian complains, isn‟t your situation depending on your domicile country‟s progression or regression?

The previous statement sounds more acceptable and the latter, more of an excuse or am I biased?

RRRRRiiiinngggg……rudely woken up by the blaring doorbell, I suddenly felt coming out of a flashback from a black and white movie. It was a bright Sunday morning and sipping my favourite cup of coffee I had let my thoughts run wild. While subconsciously I began doing what I best do, channel surfing on TV, I began to feel a pull towards the topic “Love for my Country” when I stumbled upon one channel where there was a debate on a similar topic. There was one group „for” and another “against”. While the debate predictably progressed from discussion to argument to virtually a fight, I involuntarily switched off the TV and started delving further into my thoughts. „In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of” (Courtesy: Google) It is such an irony that we are in a country where “Fence” (read “Parliamentarians”) decides the area of the playing field (read “Laws of our constitution”) and then eats the “Crops” too. Having said that I have to also reflect on the thought that it is I, as one of the citizens who have chosen the representative to do so and complain against him/her too.

Hypothetically speaking if I were elected, would I show the same consistency and complain against the system I was in to clean the system OR join the bandwagon and make hay while the sun shone?

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This led me to my next question “What drives people to elect (mis) representatives and what drives those elected to fill their coffers?”; Our country seems to have religiously adopted the “Divide and Rule” policy of the British Raj more conveniently into our daily lives than the multitude of good virtues they left behind for us to lap up. The result – country‟s spectrum of population with a high disparity in income levels has left individuals to compete for a mere existence. To me, the answer seemed to lie in the first part of the question at the beginning of this paragraph. I realized it was “Priorities”.

If I had to struggle for a good part of my life making ends meet including 2 square meals a day, it would be a question of survival. Would I not be tempted to fall prey to those goodies during election time to carelessly vote for any candidate depending on whom I benefited the most from? I slowly started to get my answers that the lower stratum of the pyramid needs to be well informed/ educated/provided for.

What could I do as an individual? The sheer enormity of the task began to discourage me. But having spent a good part of a couple of hours letting my thoughts wander the lanes of ideology, I decided to make a simple beginning with the maid of our house. A few of our old furniture and clothes were given away to her family. I give a patient hearing to her whenever she needs advice on her daughters‟ future. At the first given opportunity I draw a simulation of her situation to that of the country and what difference it would make if the right representatives were elected. After all, it is this segment of population which needs to be primarily catered to make a bigger difference to the country‟s development.

According to “Maslow‟s Hierarchy” of needs “Physiological” and “Safety” needs of an individual are paramount for him/her to think of other priorities. I started with this small gesture which helped me kick-off something worthwhile for a change Are you still fence sitting?

When you let go of trying to get more of what you don't really need, it frees up oceans of energy to make a difference with what you have.

- Ken Blanchard

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The Taste of Life Rekha Murali rekha@ncrcl.com

An experienced & wise master grew tired of his apprentice complaining. One morning he sent the apprentice for some salt.

When the apprentice returned, the master instructed the unhappy young man to put a handful of salt in a glass of water and drink it.

“How does it taste?” the master asked.“Bitter,” spit the apprentice.

The master chuckled and then asked the young man to put a handful of Salt in the lake nearby.

The two walked to the nearby lake. After the apprentice swirled his Handful of salt into the water, the old man said, “Now drink from the lake..”

As the water dripped down the young man‟s chin, the master asked, “Now How does this taste?”

“Fresh & Sweet” remarked the apprentice.

“Do you taste the salt?” asked the master.

“No,” said the young man.

At this, the master sat beside the young man who so reminded him of Himself at one time and held his hands. He told the young man, “The pain of life is pure salt; no more, no less.

The amount of pain in life remains exactly the same. However, the amount of bitterness we taste depends on the container we put the pain in.

So when you are in pain, the only thing you can do is to enlarge your sense of things . . .

“Stop being a glass. Become a lake.” source: Internet

What’s up at NCRCL?

Fun Corner

Rekha Murali‟s contribution to an article “Do women abuse their privileges?” appeared in “The Hindu – Opportunities” dated May 9, 2012. http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/ tp-opportunities/article3398908.ece

Congratulations to the newly weds Arya and Arun on May 25, 2012. Arya is the daughter of R S Murali. NCRCL team wishes the couple a life of happiness and prosperity!

"Herculean tasks with a dash of humour form part of the work at NCRCL!"

I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something I can do.

- Edward Everett Hale

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An Exclusive Talk with Sathya Narayana

Sathya Narayana K S B.Com., ACA and CWA Inter Working as Consultant Born on 06th March Email: sathya@ncrcl.com Mob No: +91 9940437543

CC. The meaning of your name.

Sathya: Still searching (Gods name will suit to some extent).

CC. Nickname.

Sathya: Sathu.

CC. Team work vs Individual work – your comments.

Sathya: According to the circumstances both will work. We should be in a position to choose the best which suits the needs.

CC. Your dream job.

Sathya: That should help me and the organization to grow simultaneously.

CC. Do you make efforts to get others to laugh and smile?

Sathya: Yes.

CC Your first impression of NCRCL. Sathya: Professional Concern to work with.

CC. Your heart rules your head or your head rules your heart?

Sathya: My head rules my heart.

CC. What personal/emotional characteristic of yours do you want to change?

Sathya: Laziness.

CC. What kind of special talent do you have?

Sathya: Still searching.

CC. Money or job satisfaction?

Sathya: 50% Money and 50% Satisfaction.

CC. What are your hobbies?

Sathya: Watching TV.

CC. Your Stress buster.

Sathya: A good sleep.

CC. Do you have a small circle of close friends, rather than a large number of friends?

Sathya: Very few friends.

CC. What do you most like about a person?

Sathya: Hard work.

CC. What do you most hate in a person?

Sathya: Escapism.

Do not take life too seriously. You will never get out of it alive.

- Elbert Hubbard

Parichay

Know our Associates!

4SPL Technologies India Pvt. Ltd. 4SPL Technologies India private Limited or 4SPL is a Bangalore based company primarily engaged in providing Database Administration (DBA) services. Starting with a few DBAs, the company has now moved on to provide other services like network management, remote management services, application maintenance and web portal and e-Commerce solutions. 4SPL also has certain software products in the area of HRMS and Payroll, Inventory Management and e-Auctions.

4SPL offers different models of services to suit varying business needs which include onsite services, offsite support, remote DBA and Annual Maintenance Contracts. 4SPL is led by a young dynamic team of professionals which includes some of the World’s best DBAs. NCRCL has utilized the DBA services of 4SPL in many of its projects over the last ten years.

4SPL shares NCRCL’s philosophy of going beyond the Terms of Reference when it comes to client satisfaction. 4SPL has helped NCRCL’s clients like the Bangalore City Corporation, Bangalore University and others in critical situations when many years of financial and operational data was at stake.

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Knowledge Snippet Which bird is the international symbol of happiness?

Send in your answers to the editor at cc@ncrcl.com

Answer To last month’s Knowledge Snippet question: Which country is known as the Sugar Bowl of the world?

The right answer was given by R Bhavana

Answer: Cuba

!!! Congratulations !!!

Round Table One more reply to the changes to be brought out in NCRCL! I would like to have a tournament among our staff once in a month, may be cricket, football, badminton any sports activity.

-Namith

For feedback If you have any comment/suggestion for the editors, please write to us at cc@ncrcl.com! Your views and comments on articles featured here are also welcome!

Happy Birthday!

Yallappa Hydagi - 01st June

Roopashree - 4th June

Yalloji Rao - 8th June

Ha Ha Ha !!!

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Suresh S Meti - 4th June

Shekar - 11th June

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