Lok Sabha Question No. 5336 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-06
Subject: Review of MGNREGS
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: KAMLA DEVI PATLE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO .5336

TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.0 4.2017

## REVIEW OF MGNREGS

## 5336. SHRIMATI KAMLA DEVI PAATLE :

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  reviewed  the  performance  of  States  under  Mahatm Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS);
- (b) if so, the details thereof, State/ UT - wise; and
- (c) the details  of  the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  improve performance of the said scheme in various States?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT ( SHRI RAM KRIPAL YADAV )

(a)to(c): The  Ministry  has  established  a  comprehensive  system  of  monitoring  a review mechanism for MGNREGA. The evaluation of works under MGNREGA is regularly done in  the  Performance  Review  Committee  meetings,  Video  conferences  and  weekly meetings. State specific reviews of States are also undertaken from time to time. Office the  Ministry  and  National  Level  Monitors als   visit  various  districts  to  oversee  t performance  of  MGNREGA. During  these  reviews,  the  implementation  aspects  that  nee strengthening are identified including the areas for improvement in the quality of asse cross learning between States for better implementation of the programme and crea durable  assets,  the  Ministry  is  organizing  Inter -State  Exchange  Programmes  (ISEPs).  The G overnment  has  taken  adequate  steps  to  strengthen  implementation  of  MGNREGA  from time to time.  The detail of steps taken to improve the programme implementation is Annexure .

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## Annexure referred to in reply to parts (a) to(c) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 5336 dated 06.04.2017.

## Steps taken by the Government to improve the programme implementation under MGNREGA

## Better planning and asset identification

- For improving convergence with the line departments, and thereby to improve the quality of assets, the State Convergence Plans have been formulated.
- To  improve  the  transparency  in  implementation  and  enhance  the visibility  of  assets  created  under  MGNREGS,  the  Ministry  has launched GIS implementation of MGNREGS under GeoMGNREGA. All assets created under MGNREGS are being geotagged and referenced on GIS maps and are made available in the public domain.
- Further,  Natural  Resource  Management  based  planning  is  being strengthened  in  convergence  with  Ministry  of  Water  Resources, Ministry  of  Agriculture  and  Farmers'  Welfare  and  other  related departments like Department of Land Resources.

## Improving the quality of works

- The  associated  outcomes  of  each  work  are  being  recorded  before taking up the work, and the same  is being measured  after completion of the work-thereby bringing in more focus on outcomes.
- The States/UTs have been asked to deploy State Quality Monitors to inspect the quality of assets created under the Scheme.
- The Ministry has conducted training of Technical Resource Persons from  the  States/UTs  on  different  aspects  of  works  which  can  be taken up under the Scheme. States have been asked to train Block Resource  Persons  and  District  Resource  Persons  to  form  technical teams.
- States  have  been  advised  to  engage technical  assistants/barefoot technicians  for  better technical  planning  and  supervision  of  works under MGNREG.

## Better transparency, accountability and grievance redressal

- States/UTs have been asked to strengthen Social audits of MGNREGS works in accordance with the provisions of the Audit of Schemes Rules 2011 issued in consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor General of India. Social Audit Action Plan  has  been formulated and shared with States.
- All  States  have  been  requested  to  set  up  an  independent  Social Audit Unit (SAU) and appoint Ombudsman at the district level for grievance redressal.
- With  a  view  to  avoid  bogus  attendance  and  to  check  instances  of tempering and misuse of muster rolls, the e-Muster system has been introduced.
- The Ministry has established a comprehensive system of monitoring and  review  mechanism  for  MGNREGA,  which,  inter  alia,  include visits of the Officers of the Ministry and National Level Monitors.

## Fund management

For  ensuring  timely  payment  of  wages,  the  Central Government  has started National  Electronic  Fund  Management  System (NeFMS) in  21  States and 1 UT. Other states and UTs will be brought in to the fold in due course of time. The system is likely to reduce unnecessary parking of funds in the states and promote greater transparency in fund management.

## Monitoring and Review Mechanism

- The Scheme is regularly reviewed in the Performance Review Committee meetings, Video conferences and Regional Review meetings. State specific reviews are also undertaken from time to time. Officers of the Ministry and National Level Monitors also visit various districts to oversee the performance of MGNREGA.