Lok Sabha Question No. 4431 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-23
Subject: Irregularities in implementation of MGNREGS
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Raghu Ramakrishna Raju Kanumuru

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

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4431 ANSWERED ON 23.03.2021

## IRREGULARITIES IN IMPLEMENTATION OF MGNREGS

## 4431.   SHRI KANUMURU RAGHU RAMA KRISHNA RAJU:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  taken  note  that  implementation  of  Mahatma  Gandhi National  Rural  Employment  Gaurantee  Scheme  (MGNREGS)  is  witnessing  some irregularities  such  as,  not  providing  100  days  work,  not  providing  work  to  women workers etc;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the remedial measures being taken by the Government for proper implementation of the MGNREGS?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SADHVI NIRANJAN JYOTI)

(a)&(b) The principal objective of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (Mahatma Gandhi NREGA), 2005 is to provide for the enhancement of livelihood security of  the  household  by  providing  at  least  one  hundred  days  of  guaranteed  wage  employment  in every  financial  year  to  every  rural  household  whose  adult  members  volunteer  to  do  unskilled manual  work.  It  provides  livelihood  security  i.e.  fall  back  option  for  livelihood  for  the  rural households  when  no  better  employment  opportunity  is  available.  The  households  can  register themselves under the Act and seek employment at multiple fora including the Gram Panchayats. The field authorities have been instructed to organise Rojgar Diwas at least once every month for covering willing unskilled labours. During FY 2020-21, more than 369 crore person-days have been  generated  as  on  18.03.2021  which  is  approximately  40%  more  than  the  employment generated during the same period in FY 2019-20. During FY 2020-21, more than 1.77 crore new job cards have been issued so far which is 154% more than the total number of new job cards issued during FY 2019-20. During the current FY 2020-21, more than 10.98 Crore persons were provided employment so far which is 39% more than the persons provided employment during FY 2019-20 under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS.

The Mahatma Gandhi NREG Act requires that priority be given to women in such a way that at least  one-third  of  the  beneficiaries  be  women.  Mahatma  Gandhi  NREG  Scheme  is  a  gender neutral programme which promotes participation of women by providing wage parity with men, provision of separate schedule of rates of wages for women, facilities for crèche, work-side sheds for children, and child care services. In convergence with NRLM, women mates have also been introduced, which again facilitate the participation of women. The Scheme also endeavours to provide works  near the residence of the beneficiaries. These measures  have enhanced participation of women,   which is more than 50 %, far ahead of the minimum percentage of 33% as  mandated  by  the  Act.  The  percentage  of  participation  of  women  under  Mahatma  Gandhi NREGS from FY 2016-17 to FY 2020-21 is given below:

| Financial Year                       | 2020-21 (as on 20.03.2021)   | 2019-20   | 2018-19   | 2017-18   | 2016-17   |
|--------------------------------------|------------------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| Percentage of participation of women | 53.07%                       | 54.78%    | 54.59%    | 53.53%    | 56.16%    |

(c)  The  responsibility  of  implementation  of  Mahatma  Gandhi  NREGS  is  vested  with  the Governments  of  States  /UTs.  The  Ministry  has  a  comprehensive  system  of  monitoring  and review mechanism for Mahatma  Gandhi NREGS.  The  Ministry regularly reviews the performance of the implementation of Mahatma Gandhi NREGS in States/UTs through various media  viz.,  Mid-Term  Review,  Labour  Budget  meetings,  Labour  Budget  Revision  meetings, programme  review  meetings.  Central  Employment  Guarantee  Council  and  State  Employment Guarantee  Councils  periodically  monitor  implementation  of  the  programme.   National  Level Monitors,  Common Review Missions and Officers  of  the  Ministry  visit  States/UTs  at  regular interval to review implementation of the programme. After the field visits, the findings/shortcomings  and  recommendations  are  shared  with  the  States/UTs  for  appropriate action  at  their  end.  Auditing  Standards  have  been  issued  and  States  have  been  advised  to establish independent Social Audit Units, conduct Social Audit as per Audit of Scheme Rules and training of Village resource persons for conducting Social Audit etc. Internal Audit Teams of the Department also conduct regular audit. All grievances/ complaints received in the Ministry are forwarded to the concerned States/UTs for taking appropriate action including investigation, as per law. Steps have been taken to strengthen transparency and accountability which include geo-tagging  of  assets,  Direct  Benefit  Transfer  (DBT),  National  electronic  Fund  Management System (NeFMS), Aadhar Based Payment System (ABPS), Software for Estimate Calculation using  Rural  rates  for  Employment  (SECURE)  and  appointment  of  Ombudsperson  in  every district of States/UTs. State specific reviews of States/UTs are also undertaken from time to time. Consistent  efforts  of  the  Government  has  resulted  in  better  implementation  of  MGNREGS  in terms of generation of persondays of employment, creation of durable assets, duly  geotagged, enhanced budgetary allocation, employment to more workers, timely payment to workers etc.

******