Lok Sabha Question No. 355 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-15
Subject: Increase in Employment under MGNREGA
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Kirron  Kher

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.355

ANSWERED ON 15/09/2020

## INCREASE IN EMPLOYMENT UNDER MGNREGA

## 355. SHRIMATI KIRRON KHER:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there has been a sharp increase in the number of persons seeking employment under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in the ongoing financial year;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  including  the  number  of  people  who  have  been  provided employment under MGNREGA in the ongoing financial year;
- (c) the budget allocated and released by the Government under the scheme;
- (d) whether the Ministry has requested an additional budget allocation from the Government considering the sharp rise in the beneficiaries and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether the Government has expanded the ambit of work offered under the scheme and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) &(b)   The details of demand for employment by persons under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (Mahatma Gandhi NREGA) during current FY 2020-21  till September 12, 2020 is given below:

| Demand under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA till September 12,2020   | Demand under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA till September 12,2020   | Demand under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA till September 12,2020   | Demand under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA till September 12,2020   | Demand under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA till September 12,2020   | Demand under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA till September 12,2020   | Demand under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA till September 12,2020   | Demand under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA till September 12,2020   |
|------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|
| FY                                                         | April                                                      | May                                                        | June                                                       | July                                                       | August                                                     | September 12,2020                                          | Total Demand till September 12,2020                        |
| 2020-21                                                    | 1,90,11,940                                                | 5,20,97,876                                                | 6,20,66,691                                                | 4,25,79,581                                                | 3,14,35,525                                                | 1,77,15,391                                                | 22,49,07,004                                               |
| 2019-20                                                    | 3,06,11,584                                                | 3,59,74,776                                                | 3,56,51,034                                                | 2,40,65,189                                                | 1,81,40,113                                                | 1,75,95,676                                                | 16,20,38,372                                               |
| %Increase                                                  | %Increase                                                  | %Increase                                                  | %Increase                                                  | %Increase                                                  | %Increase                                                  | %Increase                                                  | 38.79                                                      |

Number  of beneficiaries provided employment under Mahatma  Gandhi  National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (Mahatma Gandhi NREGA) during the current FY 2020-21 as on september 12 ,2020 is 8.29 crore.

- (c)  There is a B.E. of Rs.61,500 crore during FY 2020-21 under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA & a total of Rs.60,599 crore has been released so far.
- (d)  Government has made provision of additional fund of Rs.40,000 crore for Mahatma Gandhi NREGS under Atma Nirbhar Bharat package announce by Hon'ble Minister of Finance.
- (e)   Inclusion of new works under the Scheme is a regular exercise to expand the ambit of work offered under the Scheme. In this direction, recently on 2.7.2020, the permissible works under the  Scheme  has  been  enhanced  to  262  numbers  by  adding  unskilled  wage  component  of  230 persondays  for  construction  of  Community  Sanitary  Complexes  in  convergence  with  Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen).

The Ministry also issues convergence guidelines with other Ministries/ Departments from time to time  to  enhance  the  creation  of  durable  asset  by  creating  more  opportunities  in  rural  areas. Following guidelines have been issued recently:

- i. A  DO  Letter  dated  24.04.2020  jointly  signed  by  Secretary,  DoRD,  Secretary,  DoWR, RD&GR, Secretary, DoLR and Secretary, DoDWS  has been sent to Chief Secretaries of all States/UTs to  emphasize personal efforts for significant positive impact in the area of water conservation and water management in the country. The activities include augmentation of existing  water  sources(s),  ground  water  recharge,  rainwater  harvesting  and  grey  water management  and  recharge.  Rejuvenation  of  traditional  water  bodies,  small  rivers  are encouraged.  These  activities  would  ensure  water  source  sustainability  in  rural  areas  and would strengthen ongoing Jal Jeevan Mission being implemented by MoJS.
- ii. Guidelines  dated  04.05.2020  for  promoting  Nutri-Garden  for  individual  beneficiaries  and community in convergence with State Schemes and NRLM
- iii. Joint Guidelines dated 10.06.2020  for  construction  of  Gram  Panchayat  Bhawan  in convergence with MoPR and FC Funds for FY 2020-21.
- iv. Joint Guidelines dated 26.06.2020 for convergence with Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD) to promote fodder farms
- v. Joint guidelines dated 11.08.2020 with Nattional Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), Ministry of Ayush and DoRD, GOI to promote medicinal plants

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