Lok Sabha Question No. 3397 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-16
Subject: Job Creation in MGNREGS
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Amar Singh

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

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3397 ANSWERED ON 16.03.2021

## JOB CREATION IN MGNREGS

## 3397.   DR. AMAR SINGH:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) the manner in which massive Job Creation Programme under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) can be worked out so that the assets created are durable since the scheme provides work to 56 million households in the country; and
- (b) the manner in which MGNREGS would ensure the basis of livelihood security in future apart from providing relief during the COVID-19 pandemic/present time?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a)&(b): Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (Mahatma Gandhi NREGS) derives its mandate from Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005.

The core objectives of the Scheme shall be the following:-

- a) Providing  not  less  than  one  hundred  days  of  unskilled  manual  work  as  a  guaranteed employment in a financial year to every household in rural areas as per demand, resulting in creation of productive assets of prescribed quality and durability;
- b) Strengthening the livelihood resource base of the poor;
- c) Proactively ensuring social inclusion; and
- d) Strengthening Panchayat Raj institutions:

Provided  that  the  said  objectives  are  applicable  where  the  adult  members  volunteer  to  do unskilled  manual  work  subject  to  the  conditions  laid  down  by  or  under  this  Act  and  in  the scheme.

Under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS, focus is given on creation of productive assets of prescribed quality and durability. To ensure the durability of the assets, for all works taken up under the Scheme, by the Gram Panchayat and other implementing agencies, the cost of the material component including the wages of the skilled and semi-skilled workers, can be upto forty percent at the district level.

The durability and productivity of assets constructed is specified under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS so that livelihood security of the people is ensured. Para 7.12.2 of Annual Master Circular 2020-21 mentions the desired durability and outcome/productivity of works and same is given at Annexure .

During FY 2020-21, more than 363 crore person-days have been generated as on 12.03.2021 which is approximately 40% more than the employment generated during the same period in FY 2019-20. The Government is committed to providing to unskilled manual work to every household whose adult member volunteers to do such work.  Fund release to States/UTs is a continuous process and Central Government is  committed  to  making  funds  available  keeping  in  view  the  demand  for  work.    The  Ministry  seeks additional funds from Ministry of Finance as and when required for meeting the demand for work on the ground.

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## Annexure referred in reply to part (a)&(b) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.3397 dated 16.03.2021

| S. No.   | Mahatma Gandhi NREGA works                                                                         | Economy                                                                                       | Durability                                           | Outcome/Productivity                                                                                                                                        |
|----------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| (1)      | (2)                                                                                                | (3)                                                                                           | (4)                                                  | (5)                                                                                                                                                         |
| 1        | Water conservation & water harvesting works                                                        | Cost of construction per unit of storage of water/ unit area benefited                        | i) Pucca work 15 -25 years ii)Kachha work-5-10 years | Number of wells recharged/ area brought under irrigation/increase in production and increase in Ground Water Table (in mm)                                  |
| 2        | Afforestation &tree plantation                                                                     | Cost per unit area/ plant till the tree is grown up (3-4 years)                               | Afforestation trees, 15-25 years                     | Benefit per tree till its total age i.e. 20-25 years (in Rs.)                                                                                               |
| 3        | Irrigation canal including micro and minor irrigation                                              | Cost per unit area brought under irrigation                                                   | 15-25 years                                          | Increase in productivity in a year by taking number of crops in a year (in Quintal) Area covered under irrigation (Ha)                                      |
| 4        | a) Irrigation facility excluding canal/ horticulture/ plantation/ b)farm bunding/ land development | Cost per unit area brought under irrigation/ plant till it is productive/ unit area developed | a)15-25 years b)10-15 years                          | Area covered under irrigation (in Ha.)/ plantation/ land development(in Ha.)/ Increase in productivity in a year by taking number of crops in a year (in %) |
| 5        | Renovation/ repair of traditional water bodies including desilting of tanks                        | Cost per unit increase in storage capacity of water/ cum silt removed                         | 10-15 years                                          | increase in storage capacity of water (in cum) and Ground Water Table (in mm)                                                                               |
| 6        | Land development                                                                                   | Cost per unit area developed                                                                  | 15-25 years                                          | Area developed (in Ha.)/ / increase in productivity per annum (in %)                                                                                        |
| 7        | Flood control &Flood protection works                                                              | Cost per unit area developed                                                                  | 10-15 years                                          | Area developed (in Ha.)/ / increase in productivity per annum (in %)                                                                                        |
| 8        | Rural connectivity (a) CC roads (b) Gravel/ WBMroad                                                | Cost per Km. length of connectivity                                                           | (a)10-15 years (b) 5-10 years                        | Number of villagers & villages benefitted Total length of road (in km.)                                                                                     |
| 9        | Building works                                                                                     | Cost per unit covered area                                                                    | 45-60 years                                          | Number of villagers &villages benefitted (In numbers)                                                                                                       |
| 10       | Agriculture related works (bio-fertilizers)                                                        | Cost per unit capacity of producing manure at a time                                          | 5-10 years                                           | Capacity to produce compost/manure per annum (in kg)                                                                                                        |
| 11       | Livestock related works (shelters)                                                                 | Cost per unit covered area                                                                    | 10-15 years                                          | Number of beneficiary provided with poultry/goat/cattle (In number)                                                                                         |
| 12       | Fishery related works                                                                              | Cost per unit fish produced per annum                                                         | 5-10 years                                           | Fish produced per annum (In quintal)                                                                                                                        |
| 13       | Works in coastal areas a) fish drying yards b) belt vegetation                                     | a)Cost per unit covered area b) Cost per unit covered area/ number of plants                  | a)10-15 years b)15-25 years                          | a) Quintals of fish can be dried per annum (In quintal) b) Area benefitted (in Ha.)                                                                         |
| 14       | Rural drinking water related works such as soak pits, recharge pits                                | Cost per unit cum water recharged/ earth excavated                                            | 3-5 years                                            | Area benefitted/ quantity of water recharged                                                                                                                |
| 15       | Rural sanitation related works                                                                     | Cost per unit toilet/ solid liquid waste management                                           | 10-15 years                                          | Households benefited (In numbers)                                                                                                                           |