Lok Sabha Question No. 2189 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-08
Subject: Wage Payment under MGNREGS
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: SHASHI THAROOR

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2189

TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.03.2018

## WAGE PAYMENT UNDER MGNREGS

## 2189.   DR. SHASHI THAROOR:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state

- (a) the  total  percentage  of  delayed  wage  payments  under  Mahatma  Gandhi  National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) out of the total wage payments for  the  financial  year  2015-16,  2016-17  and  the  latest  information  for  the  financial year 2017-18;
- (b) the details of total compensation payable for delayed wage payment till date;
- (c) whether the entire compensation amount payable for delayed wage payments has been credited to the accounts of respective MGNREGS workers;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not the reasons therefor; and
- (e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government since 13.05.2016 when the Supreme Court delivered its judgment in Swaraj Abhiyan vs. Union of India case to expedite the wage payment process under MGNREGS?

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

(a): The  Ministry  along  with  the  States/UTs  has  been  making  concerted  efforts  for improving  the  timely  payment  of  wages.  States/  UTs  have  been  advised  to  generate  pay orders  in  time.  This  has  resulted  in  considerable  improvement  in  the  status  of  timely generation of pay orders leading to improvement in actual time taken to credit wages in the workers account.

| Financial year                   | 2017-18 (As on 05 th March, 2018)   | 2016-17   | 2015-16   |
|----------------------------------|-------------------------------------|-----------|-----------|
| %of pay orders generated in time | 85.73%                              | 43.58%    | 36.92%    |
| %of pay orders delayed           | 14.27%                              | 56.42%    | 63.08%    |

(b) to (d): As per the provisions under Para 29 (1) of Schedule-II of the MGNREG Act, provisions have been enabled in the NREGASoft to automatically calculate the compensation payable for delay in payment of wages. This has been made operational since 3 rd January, 2014. A sum of Rs. 1917 crore has been estimated as payable compensation, out of which Rs. 88.46 crore has been approved for payment of compensation after due verification. Out of the approved compensation, Rs 77.77 crore has been paid. A sum of Rs. 289.57 crore is pending for  verification  by  the  Programme  Officers  at  the  Block  Level.  The  Ministry  has  been monitoring the progress of payment of compensation on daily basis.

- (e): With a view to increase the timely payment, the Ministry has taken following steps:
- (i) Upscaling of National Electronic Fund management System (Ne-FMS) in 24 States and 1 UT.
- (ii) Four days intensive consultation with State Governments to strategize timely payment of wages, verification of pending compensation claims etc.
- (iii) Standard  Operating  Procedure  for  monitoring  of  timely  payment  and  payment  of compensation issued.
- (iv) Video  conferences  with  States/  UTs  reviewing  the  status  of  timely  payment  and payment of delay compensation on monthly basis.

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