Lok Sabha Question No. 1511 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-20
Subject: Reforms in MGNREGS
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Pradeep Kumar Singh

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

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1511 ANSWERED ON 20/09/2020

## REFORMS IN MGNREGS

## 1511.   SHRI PRADEEP KUMAR SINGH:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) the  need  and  basis  for  reforms  in  Mahatma  Gandhi  National  Rural  Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) by the Government;
- (b) the details of provisions the Government is considering for positive changes in terms of different provisions under it;
- (c) whether any speedy mechanism been made for redressal of problem of delay in payment and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  wages  (Rs.  178.44)  recommended  by  the  panel  is  even  less  than  half  of  the National Minimum Wages(Rs. 375) , if so, the details thereof and the steps being taken by the Government in this regard; and
- (e) whether  any  provisions  have  been  made  to  solve  the  technical  problems  faced  by  the labourers in this and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a)&(b):  The Mahatma Gandhi NREGS is constantly evolving Scheme based on the monitoring and evaluations carried out by the Ministry through National Level Monitors, Common Review Missions,  Mid  Term  Reviews,  Third  Party  evaluations  as  well  as  the  feedback  and  guidance received from the Committees of Parliament, Central Employment Guarantee Council and the requests/feedback of the Ministries, State Governments and others. Modifications are made to guidelines,  structures  and  processes  in  light  of  above  factors  for  serving  the  objectives  of Mahatma Gandhi NREG Act more efficiently and effectively on a sustainable & sustained basis.

(c):     The Ministry along with the States/UTs has been making concerted efforts for improving the  timely  payment  of  wages.  National  electronic  Fund  Management  System  (NeFMS)  is implemented in 25 States and 2 Union Territory wherein payment of wages is being credited directly  to  the  bank/post  office  accounts  of  Mahatma  Gandhi  NREGS  workers  by  the  Central Government through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). The Ministry has issued Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) on timely payment process for direct payment into the account of beneficiaries. States/ UTs have been advised to generate pay orders in time. This has resulted in considerable improvement in the status of timely generation of pay order leading to improvement in actual time taken to credit wages in the workers account. During the current Financial Year 2021-21 (as on 16.09.2020), around 98.58% pay orders have been generated within 15 days from the date of closure of the Muster Roll.

(d):    No such panel has been constituted by this Ministry in this regard.  As per section 6(1) of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (Mahatma Gandhi NREGA), the  Central  Government  may,  by  notification,  specify  the  wage  rate  for  its  beneficiaries. Accordingly, the Ministry of Rural Development notifies Mahatma Gandhi NREGA wage rate every  year  for  States/UTs.  To  compensate  the  Mahatma  Gandhi  NREGA  workers  against inflation, the Ministry of Rural Development revises the wage rate every year based on change in Consumer  Price  Index  for  Agricultural  Labour  (CPI-AL).  The  wage  rate  is  made  applicable from 1st April  of  each  Financial  Year.   However,  each  State/UT  can  provide  wage  over  and above the wage-rate notified by the Central Government. The wage rate for the States/UTs for the Financial Year 2020-21, notified on 23rd March, 2020 is at Annexure-I.

(e):      The  mandate of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (Mahatma Gandhi NREGA) is to assure upto 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to every rural household whose adult member volunteers to do unskilled manual work.

The responsibility for implementation of the Scheme is   with the States/UTs. The Ministry is in constant engagement with the States/UTs through review meetings, video conferences, Mid Term  Review  etc.  and  officers  of  the  Ministry  visit  to  States  at  regular  interval  to  review implementation of the programme. After the field visits, the findings/shortcomings including technical  problems and  recommendations  are  shared  with  the  States  for  appropriate action at their end. Monitoring and supervision of all aspects including technical problems of the programme have been strengthened for improving the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA.

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## Annexure-I  referred  in  reply  to  part  (d)  of  Lok  Sabha  Unstarred Question No.1511 dated 20.09.2020

State wise wage rates as per Gazette Notification 2020

| No.   | Name of the State                                         |   2020-21 |
|-------|-----------------------------------------------------------|-----------|
| 1     | ANDHRA PRADESH                                            |       237 |
| 2     | ARUNACHAL PRADESH                                         |       205 |
| 3     | ASSAM                                                     |       213 |
| 4     | BIHAR                                                     |       194 |
| 5     | CHHATTISGARH                                              |       190 |
| 6     | GUJARAT                                                   |       224 |
| 7     | HARYANA                                                   |       309 |
| 8     | HIMACHAL PRADESH - NON SCHEDULED AREA                     |       198 |
| 8a    | HIMACHAL PRADESH - SCHEDULED AREA                         |       248 |
| 9     | JAMMU &KASHMIR                                            |       204 |
| 10    | Ladakh                                                    |       204 |
| 11    | JHARKHAND                                                 |       194 |
| 12    | KARNATAKA                                                 |       275 |
| 13    | KERALA                                                    |       291 |
| 14    | MADHYA PRADESH                                            |       190 |
| 15    | MAHARASHTRA                                               |       238 |
| 16    | MANIPUR                                                   |       238 |
| 17    | MEGHALAYA                                                 |       203 |
| 18    | MIZORAM                                                   |       225 |
| 19    | NAGALAND                                                  |       205 |
| 20    | ODISHA                                                    |       207 |
| 21    | PUNJAB                                                    |       263 |
| 22    | RAJASTHAN                                                 |       220 |
| 23    | SIKKIM                                                    |       205 |
| 23a   | SIKKIM(3 Gram Panchayat namely Gnathang, Lachung, Lachen) |       308 |
| 24    | TAMIL NADU                                                |       256 |
| 25    | TRIPURA                                                   |       205 |
| 26    | UTTAR PRADESH                                             |       201 |
| 27    | UTTARAKHAND                                               |       201 |
| 28    | WEST BENGAL                                               |       204 |
| 29    | GOA                                                       |       280 |
| 30a   | ANDAMAN                                                   |       267 |
| 30b   | NICOBAR                                                   |       282 |
| 31    | D&N HAVELI                                                |       258 |
| 32    | Daman &DIU                                                |       227 |
| 33    | LAKSHADWEEP                                               |       266 |
| 34    | PUDUCHERRY                                                |       256 |
| 35    | TELANGANA                                                 |       237 |