In the district of Sirsa in Haryana, wage rates have increased appreciably after the nregs started being implemented there. Being a cotton-producing district, the daily wage for cotton-picking workers was around Rs85 when the scheme was launched. While the scheme offered Rs95, workers shifted to projects run under the scheme. The large farmers had no choice but to increase wage rates and, at present, the scheme offers a wage of Rsl 35, while cotton picking rates stand at Rs200. Sirsa was one of the two districts selected in Haryana for implementation, when the scheme was launched. V. Umashankar, deputy commissioner, Sirsa, admits that there have been hiccups initially. "While digging for ponds, many of them were dry, as we didn't conduct a technical evaluation." In another case, a block officer was investigated on complaints that he was demanding money for signing cheques. Balraj Singh, bdo, Odha block, says: "Initially, even we were sceptical. As with government schemes, we thought that it would be a non-starter. However once people became aware, they came out in numbers to register". In Sirsa, the gram sabha decides what the requirement for the village is and, accordingly, an application is forwarded to the district office. However, the focus has been on rural connectivity, water management and tree plantation. Also novel is the concept of social audit, nonexistent in other plans and schemes. Workers like Raja and Harjinder from Odha vilJage seem happy with the opportunity, as it gives them work during the lean season. Harjinder says that the scheme is a boost for her family, as she has an extra source of income. Gurtej, a worker in a Kinnoo orchid spread over five acres of land, acknowledges that "Payments are made after every 15 days, without any delays". Of the four districts of Haryana, under which nregs was implemented in 2007-08, a sum of Rs67 crore has been incurred, with Sirsa district leading in implementation, with Rs31.1 crore spent. But, "not all villages were doing well," says Umashankar. Villages are given money in two instalments, the first directly from district headquarters and second through the block development officer. Payments are made through banks, effectively minimising leakages, with 60 per cent of the cost going towards paying wages. The sarpanch of jagden Kaluana village agrees that the scheme has brought in social benefits too. "We have divided labourers into groups and asked them to create a fund from their savings, which they could avail while faced with health or financial hardships." For the people of Sirsa, the scheme has been a boon.