Lok Sabha Question No. 2095 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-08
Subject: Construction of Ponds under MGNREGS
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2095

TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.03.2018

## CONSTRUCTION OF PONDS UNDER MGNREGS

## 2095.   SHRI KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  according  priority  to  the  construction  of  ponds  and  water conservation structures under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in drought affected areas;
- (b) if so, the details of the number of workers securing job through digging of ponds along with  the  number  of  ponds  constructed  under  the  said  scheme  in  Bundelkhand  region during the last three years; and
- (c) the  details  of  other  benefits  or  reliefs  provided  to  MGNREGS  workers  in  drought affected areas of the country including Bundelkhand region?

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

- (a): As  per  the  Schedule  I  of  the  MGNREGA  Act  2005,    water  conservation,  water harvesting  and  watershed  management  works  are  permitted.  The  State  Government  has  been advised  to  accord  priority  to  the  construction  of  ponds  and  water  conservation  structures  in drought affected areas. A Mission Water Conservation (MWC) Framework was circulated to all States/UTs on 1 st November, 2016 in consultation with Ministry of Water Resource, Department of  land  Resource  and  Ministry  of  Agriculture  &  Farmers  Welfare  under  which  2264  Mission Water Conservation Blocks spreading in 21 States of the country including Bundelkhand region were  listed  out.  The  MWC  framework  calls  for  leveraging  of  knowledge  of  Central  Ground Water  Board  (CGWB)  and  Central  Water  Commission  (CWC).  All  NRM  components  of MNREGA labour budget are to be part of District Irrigation Plan (DIP) at the district level.
- (b): The households are provided works on the basis of available shelf of projects during the financial year in that area and not specifically for digging of ponds only. Number of farm ponds and households provided employment during the last three years in Bundelkhand region under MGNREGS are given at Annexure .
- (c): The  Mahatma  Gandhi  National  Rural  Employment  Guarantee  Act  (MGNREGA) provides  for  at  least  100  days  of  wage  employment  to  every  rural  household  whose  adult members are willing to  do unskilled manual work. Forest Rights Act (FRA) beneficiaries are entitled to 150 days of wage employment per household in a Financial Year.

An additional 50 days of wage employment are provided over and above 100 days in the notified  drought  affected  areas  of  the  States/UTs  on  recommendation  of  the  Ministry  of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

Annexure referred to in reply to part (b) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2095 dated 08.03.2018.

| No.   | State          | Districts   | Farm Ponds   | Farm Ponds   | Farm Ponds   | Households provided employment (In Nos)   | Households provided employment (In Nos)   | Households provided employment (In Nos)   |
|-------|----------------|-------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|-------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|
|       |                |             | 2014-15      | 2015-16      | 2016-17      | 2014-15                                   | 2015-16                                   | 2016-17                                   |
| 1     | MADHYA PRADESH | CHHATARPUR  | 82           | 75           | 128          | 41811                                     | 40062                                     | 48394                                     |
| 2     | MADHYA PRADESH | DAMOH       | 607          | 237          | 306          | 60769                                     | 44494                                     | 49845                                     |
| 3     | MADHYA PRADESH | DATIA       | 691          | 152          | 43           | 14557                                     | 14461                                     | 15700                                     |
| 4     | MADHYA PRADESH | PANNA       | 583          | 183          | 330          | 45518                                     | 45537                                     | 44259                                     |
| 5     | MADHYA PRADESH | SAGAR       | 414          | 240          | 235          | 63249                                     | 52715                                     | 61801                                     |
| 6     | MADHYA PRADESH | TIKAMGARH   | 107          | 105          | 94           | 52989                                     | 42758                                     | 43228                                     |
| 7     | UTTAR PRADESH  | BANDA       | 152          | 70           | 95           | 58050                                     | 81016                                     | 67993                                     |
| 8     | UTTAR PRADESH  | CHITRAKOOT  | 17           | 45           | 79           | 38490                                     | 57324                                     | 49523                                     |
| 9     | UTTAR PRADESH  | HAMIRPUR    | 16           | 36           | 52           | 36009                                     | 53977                                     | 48261                                     |
| 10    | UTTAR PRADESH  | JALAUN      | 82           | 155          | 30           | 67542                                     | 83563                                     | 83454                                     |
| 11    | UTTAR PRADESH  | JHANSI      | 52           | 14           | 43           | 60457                                     | 76125                                     | 59808                                     |
| 12    | UTTAR PRADESH  | LALITPUR    | 70           | 89           | 53           | 61513                                     | 85885                                     | 65250                                     |
| 13    | UTTAR PRADESH  | MAHOBA      | 24           | 60           | 83           | 15135                                     | 37607                                     | 27543                                     |
|       | Total          | Total       | 2897         | 1461         | 1571         | 616089                                    | 715524                                    | 665059                                    |