Lok Sabha Question No. 261 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-15
Subject: Use of Machines under MGNREGS
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Diya Kumari

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

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 261 ANSWERED ON 15/09/2020

## USE OF MACHINES UNDER MGNREGS

## 261. MS. DIYA KUMARI:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether certain States have asked the Government to permit usage of machines under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS); and
- (b) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a)& (b)  As per the Para 22 of Schedule-1, Mahatma Gandhi NREGA, lays down that ' As far as practicable,  works  executed  by  the  programme  implementing  agencies  shall  be  performed  by using manual labour and no labour displacing machines shall be used .' Central Government examines the request of state Government regarding use of machine under Mahatma  Gandhi  NREG  Scheme,  as  per  the  provision  of  the  Act.  Accordingly,  for  certain activities, use of a particular type of machine is permissible. The details are annexed.

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## Annexure  to the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 261 to be answered on 15.09.2020 'Use of Machines under MGNREGS'

A suggested list of machines which can be used under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA is shown below:

|   S. No. | Name of work as per para 4.(1) of Schedule- 1, MGNREGA         | Name of Activity                                                                       | Name of Machine(s) that can be used                                                                                                                                                                              |
|----------|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|        1 | I. Category A: Public Works Related toNRM                      | i) Compaction of earthen embankment in 15 to 23 cm layers, at optimum moisture content | i) Plate Rammers / Vibrating plate compactors / vibro tampers ii) Static smooth wheeled roller of 8 - 20 ton weight/ Power roller / Sheep foot roller / Pneumatic tyred roller / Vibratory roller / Grid roller. |
|        2 | II. Category B: (i) Improving productivity of lands, dug wells | i) The excavation/ deepening of dug well                                               | i)Pump set for dewatering, ii)Tractor mounted Compressor hammer for rocky strata, iii) Lifting device/ Chain pulley (motorised)                                                                                  |
|        3 | IV. Category D: (ii) Road connectivity                         | i) Compaction of earthen embankment in 15 to 23 cm layers, at optimum moisture content | i) Static smooth wheeled roller of 8 - 20 ton weight/ Power roller / Sheep foot roller / Pneumatic tyred roller / Vibratory roller / Grid roller. ii)Trailer mounted water browser                               |
|        3 | IV. Category D: (ii) Road connectivity                         | ii)Compaction of morum/ gravel in 15 to 20 cm layers at optimum moisture content       | i) Static smooth wheeled roller of 8 - 20 ton weight/ Power roller / Sheep foot roller / Pneumatic tyred roller / Vibratory roller / Grid roller. ii)Trailer mounted water browser                               |
|        3 | IV. Category D: (ii) Road connectivity                         | iii) Mixing of cement concrete.                                                        | i) Mechanical Mixer                                                                                                                                                                                              |
|        3 | IV. Category D: (ii) Road connectivity                         | iv)Compaction of cement concrete                                                       | i) Mechanical Vibrator                                                                                                                                                                                           |
|        3 | IV. Category D: (ii) Road connectivity                         | v) Cutting of joint in Cement Concrete                                                 | i) Concrete joint cutter                                                                                                                                                                                         |

| 4.   | IV. Category D: (v) Construction of building                                 | i) RCC Footing, Column, Beam and Roof i)                                                                                                           | Mechanical mixer and Mechanical vibrator                                       |
|------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 5.   | IV. Category D: (vii) Production of building materials                       | i)For compressing Compressed Stabilised Earthen Blocks (CSEB)                                                                                      | i) Machine for making CSEB.                                                    |
|      |                                                                              | ii) For production of fly ash bricks/ blocks                                                                                                       | ii) Pan mixer & Brick/ block making machine (Vibratory table/ Hydraulic press) |
| 6.   | I. Category A: (v) Afforestation, tree plantation in common and forest lands | i) Digging pits for plantation, which cannot be done manually in Usar areas, where there is Kankar pan and soil is alkaline with pH more than 8.5. | i) Mechanical Auger                                                            |

The conditions for use of above mentioned machines are:

- a. Use  of  machines  listed  above  will  be  part  of  technical  sanction  in  the  estimates  and approval for use of machinery must be sought from the DPC or competent authority. The operation of such machines should be duly recorded/ documented in each such case and be made part of the case record.
- b. The use of machinery for compaction should be factored in while calculating output for relevant item of unskilled work and SOR should be revised to remove duplicity of same activity with machine and labour. It is recommended to use separate SOR for unskilled manual work, wherein compaction is done by use of machinery.
- c. The estimate of Mahatma Gandhi NREGA work should contain machine rate, as per the prevailing Schedule of Rates (SOR) of the State/line departments in the area.
- d. Such works must be specifically taken up for Social Audits. Details of use of machines and their estimated cost, as well as the purpose for which machines were used should be mandatorily displayed on the worksite display board in local language. In case instances of violation of instructions relating to use of machines are reported in Social Audit/ by NLM or as a complaint then no fund shall be allowed from Centre for such project.

In  case  the  machines  are  required  to  be  installed  for  repeated  use  in  the  operations,  like production  of  building  materials  (CSEB,  Fly  Ash  Bricks,  Paver  Blocks  etc.)  efforts  must  be made  to  procure  such  machines  from  sources  other  than  Mahatma  Gandhi  NREGA  as convergence support from the participating programme.

In any case before commencing this activity, it must be ensured that the fly ash bricks, Paver block etc. are being produced at a cost that is competitive with the market rate. While calculating the cost of production of building materials, the cost of machine will be included suitably i.e. it will be amortized.

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