Lok Sabha Question No. 691 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-07
Subject: Fund Crunch in MGNREGS
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Tejpratap Singh,Yadav, L.R. Shivaramegowda, ANJU BALA

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 691

TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2019

## FUND CRUNCH IN MGNREGS

## 691. SHRI TEJ PRATAP SINGH YADAV: SHRI L.R. SHIVARAME GOWDA: SHRIMATI ANJU BALA:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) is facing a severe fund crunch and faces difficulties in meeting the demand for work and paying wages on time;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether 250 law-makers and activists have written to the Prime Minister raising concerns over implementation of the MGNREGS;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the action taken thereon;
- (e) whether there is urgent need for strengthening of MGNREGS amid a situation of distress across rural India with massive unemployment and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to improve the living conditions of rural workers across the country?

## ANSWER

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

(a)& (b): The Ministry releases funds to the State/UT based on the basis of the agreed to Labour Budget, opening balance, pending liabilities of the previous year for the financial year, if any,  and  overall  performance.  Fund  release  to  States/UTs  is  a  continuous  process  and  Central Government  is  committed  in  making  funds  available  keeping  in  view  the  demand  for  work. During FY  2018-19  (as on 04.02.2019), Rs 55,687.47 crore has been released under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS)  to States/UTs.  The  Ministry  seeks  additional  amount  for  MGNREGA  as  and  when  required  for meeting the demand for work on the ground.

(c)& (d): Ministry of Rural Development  has  been received various representation/ references regarding implementation of the MGNREGS from Prime Minister's Office. Since the responsibility  of  implementation  of  MGNREGA  is  vested  with  the  State  Governments,  all representation/  references  are  forwarded  to  the  concerned  State  Governments  for  taking appropriate action including investigation, as per law.

(e)& (f): The  Government  has  taken  steps  to  strengthen  implementation  of  MGNREGA from time to time. These include:-

- (i) Implementation  of  National  electronic  Fund  Management  System  (Ne-FMS)  and focus on  Aadhaar  Based Payment system, streamlining fund flow mechanism, and monitoring of timely payment of wages to workers.
- (ii) Training  of  Barefoot  Technicians,  capacity  building  of  MGNREGA  functionaries such as State Technical Resource Team / District Technical Resource Team / Block Technical Resource Team on Mission Water Conservation works, training on GeoMGNREGA, training to Finance officers of States on preparation of fund proposals etc.
- (iii) Framework  for  strengthening  of  monitoring  mechanism  developed  and  advisories issued  for  inspection  of  MGNREGA  works  by  State,  District  and  Block  level officials and National Level Monitors.
- (iv) The Ministry  has  initiated  Job  Cards  (JCs)  verification  of  MGNREGA  workers  to weed out the bogus and duplicates JCs.
- (v) 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, training of Village Resource Persons for conducting Social Audit etc.
- (vi) A path breaking initiative  for  improved  planning,  effective  monitoring  and  greater transparency  with  the  use  space  technology  for  geo-tagging  of  MGNREGA  assets has also been launched.

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