Lok Sabha Question No. 730 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-20
Subject: Facilities to MGNREGS Workers
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: GEETHA KOTHAPALLI

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 730

TO BE ANSWERED ON 20 .0 7.2017

## FACILITIES TO MGNREGS WORKERS

## 730. SHRIMATI KOTHAPALLI GEETHA:

W ill the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is linking agriculture with rural wage income scheme aft recommendation of NITI Aayog in Andhra Pradesh and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employm ent Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) workers are not getting proper facilities and lack quality and if so, the detail the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the workers are not getting their wages within the stipulated time of 15 days of work in And hra Pradesh and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether the Government is aware that in the schools, there are no special kitch to prepare mid day meals and hence, proposes to construct/set up kitchen room MGNREGS funds, to prepare the hygienic food in safe and clean areas; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

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

- (a): One of the objectives of the Act is to strengthen the livelihood resource base o poor  through  creation  of  productive  assets  of  prescribed  quality  and  durability. provision  under  Schedule -I  of  MGNREGA  Act,  2005  for  improving  productivi ty  of  lands through land development and by providing suitable infrastructure for irrigation incl wells,  farm  ponds  and  other  water  harvesting  structures,  works  for  promoting  agr productivity by creating durable infrastructure including p ucca storage facilities for agricultura produce for the vulnerable households specified in Schedule I of the Act.

Provision has been made that at least 60% of the works to be taken up in a district cost under MGNREGA shall be for creation of productive assets directly linked to agr and allied activities through development of land, water and trees. During the last FY 2016 - 17, around 62% of works in terms of cost were related to Agriculture and Allied activities Pradesh.

- (b): The workers employed under MGNREGS are entitled to such facilities as specifie Schedule  II  of  the  MGNREGA.    As MGNREGS  is  implemented  by  the  State  Government, responsibility to provide the required facilities to the workers rest with them.

(c): Payment of wages is made based on the measurements of the work done.  Under programme, 96% of wage payments are e lectronically credited into the accounts of the work National  Electronic  Fund  Management  System (NeFMS) has  been  introduced  in  21  States including Andhra Pradesh and 1 UT for direct payment of wages into workers account. The Governments/UTs have been advised to get the registered households verified through Panc functionaries to  ensure  correctness in the database of the programme.  During the cu 2017- 18,  an  amount  of  Rs.2186.76  crore  has  been  released  to  Andhra  Pradesh  State  to wa ges through NeFMS.

(d)& (e): Kitchen shed as a standalone activity is not permissible under MGNREGA.

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