Lok Sabha Question No. 455 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-19
Subject: Wages under MGNREGS
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Ravneet Singh

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.455

TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.11.2019

## WAGES UNDER MGNREGS

## 455. SHRI RAVNEET SINGH BITTU:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the total expenditure incurred on wages under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) during each of the last three years and the current year;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  taken  measures  to  tackle  the  deteriorating  labour  force under MGNREGS and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the  number  of  corruption  cases/complaints  or  irregularities  received  and  disposed  of during  the  last  four  years  along  with  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  tackle corruption under MGNREGS; and
- (d) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  establish  any  monitoring  mechanism  for  this purpose and if so, the details thereof?

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

- (a): As per Management Information System (MIS), the details of expenditure on unskilled wage under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (Mahatma Gandhi NREGS)  during  the  last  three  financial  years  and  current  financial  year  2019-20  (as  on 13.11.2019) is as under:

| Financial Years          |   Expenditure on unskilled wage (Rs. in crore) |
|--------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
| 2016-17                  |                                        40720.4 |
| 2017-18                  |                                        43125.2 |
| 2018-19                  |                                        47172.3 |
| 2019-20 as on 13.11.2019 |                                        30092.3 |

(b): Mahatma Gandhi NREGS is a demand driven wage employment programme. It provides livelihood security i.e., fall back option for livelihood for the rural households when no better employment opportunity is available. The demand for work is influenced by various factors such as  rain-fall,  availability  of  alternative  and  remunerative  employment  opportunities  outside Mahatma Gandhi NREGS.

(c)&(d): The Ministry, under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS receives complaints of irregularities/corruption and embezzlement including diversion of funds, under/non-payment of wages, lack of transparency etc. Since the responsibility of implementation of Mahatma Gandhi NREGS  is  vested  with  the  State  Governments/UTs,  complaints  received  in  the  Ministry  are forwarded  to  the  concerned  State  Governments/UTs  for  taking  appropriate action.  Steps  have been  taken  to  strengthen  transparency  and  accountability  which  include  geo-tagging,  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 establishment of independent social audit units and appointment of Ombudsmen in the States. Performance Review Committee meetings of the Ministry, Common Review Missions and regular video conferencing on specific issues are also important tools of Monitoring. State specific reviews of States are also undertaken from time to time. Officers of the Ministry and National Level Monitors also visit various districts to oversee the performance of  Mahatma Gandhi NREGS. As per Centralized Public Grievance Redressal and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS), the status of corruption and cases of other irregularities under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS during the last four years (from 2015-16 to 2018-19) is given below:

| Category                                     |   Received |   Disposed |   Pending |
|----------------------------------------------|------------|------------|-----------|
| Corruption and cases of other irregularities |        705 |        556 |       149 |