Lok Sabha Question No. 4740 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-15
Subject: Strengthening of MGNREGS
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: N.K. PREMACHANDRAN

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO .4740

TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.1 2.2016

## STRENGTHENING OF MGNREGS

## 4740. SHRI N.K. PREMACHANDRAN:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  strengthen  Mahatma  Gandhi  National  Rura Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS);
- (b) if so, the initiatives of the Government to provide sufficient infrastructure implementation of the scheme as per the guidelines;
- (c) whether the Union Government proposes to revise the guidelines for asset cr considering the special situation of each State and if so, the action taken th
- (d) whether the Government proposes to rel ax the existing criteria for implementation o the scheme considering the requests from the State Governments and if so, the thereof and the action taken on the request of State of Kerala in this regard;
- (e) whetherthe Government proposes to increase the wages considering the high li cost and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) whether the Government also proposes to ensure more working days and if so, action taken thereon?

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

(a)& (b): The  Government  has  taken  adequate  steps  to  strengthen  implementation MGNREGA from time to time.  The details of major steps taken in this regard is gi Annexure - I .

(c)& (d): The Guidelines of MGNREGA are modified in consultation with the States UTs from time to time based on feedback received from States/UTs and other stakeho The suggestions received from States/UTs including Kerala are examined in the light and objective of the Act. The Ministry issues guidelines, advisories and manuals o under MGNREGA as and when required. The works which are non - tangible, not measurable and repetitive are not permitted.

(e): The wages of workers under Mahatma Gandhi N ational Rural Employment Guarantee Act  (MGNREGA)  are  protected  against  inflation  by  Indexation  with  the  Consumer  Pr Index for Agricultural Labour (CPI - AL). MGNREGA wage rate are linked with State - wise CPI- AL  which  is  revised  on  yearly  basis  and  implemen ted  during  the  financial  year  in States/UTs.

(f) The Act provides for at least 100 days of wage employment to every rural hous whose  adult  members  are  willing  to  do  unskilled  manual  work.  Forest  Right  Act  ( beneficiaries are entitled to maximum of 150 days of work per household in one Financial Year.

However, 50 days of additional employment over and above 100 days per household un MGNREGA are made in the notified drought affected areas of the States on recommendat of the Ministry of Agri culture and Farmers' Welfare.

## Annexure referred to in reply to part (a)&(b) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4740 dated 15.12.2016.

## Major steps taken  by  the  Government  to  improve  the  programme implementation under MGNREGA

## Better planning and asset identification

- An  Intensive Participatory Planning Exercise (IPPE) /Mission Antyodaya has been launched in 2569 most backward blocks. This exercise has helped in identifying better quality assets that need to be created.
- 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.
- 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 geo-tagged  and  referenced  on  GIS  maps  and  are  being  made available in the public domain in a phased way.

## 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.
- Ministry  has  conducted  training  of  Technical  Resource  Persons from the States/UTs on different technical 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  from technical teams.
- States  have  been  advised  to  engage  technical  assistants/barefoot engineers  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.

- 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.
- 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.

## Fund management and avoiding delays in payment

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 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.