Lok Sabha Question No. 1457 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-07
Subject: Increase of Wage Days under MGNREGS
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Chandra Sekhar Sahu, Diya Kumari

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1457 ANSWERED ON 07/12/2021

## INCREASE OF WAGE DAYS UNDER MGNREGS

## 1457.   SHRI CHANDRA SEKHAR SAHU: MS. DIYA KUMARI:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government have received any communication from the State Government  of  Odisha  regarding  increase  of  wages  days  from  100  to  200  under Mahatma  Gandhi  National  Rural  Employment  Guarantee  Scheme  (MGNREGS),  if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  State  Government  has  also  requested  to  release  Central  assistance  for such increased number of wage days to the State;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and the steps so far taken by the Government on such request;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  any  proposal  to  increase  the  duration  of  employment contract (from the current guaranteed employment for 100 days) and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  increase  the  wages  under  the  MGNREGA scheme and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) whether  the  Government  has  undertaken  measures  to  ensure  safety  for  women employed under MGNREGS and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SADHVI NIRANJAN JYOTI)

(a) to (c): The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (Mahatma Gandhi NREGS) is a demand driven wage employment programme which provides for the enhancement  of  livelihood  security  of  the  households  in  rural  areas  of  the  country  by providing at least 100 days of Guaranteed wage employment in every financial year to every household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work. However, the State Government may make provisions for any period beyond the guaranteed 100 days. Recently, State Government of Odisha has requested to enable the provision in NREGASoft (an online platform for Mahatma Gandhi NREGS) for additional 200 days in 20 migration prone blocks of  4  Districts.  The  additional  expenditure  shall  be  borne  by  the  State  Government.  The request has been accepted and provision has been enabled in NREGASoft.

(d) :   So far as enhancement of guaranteed days of employment is concerned, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (Mahatma Gandhi NREGA) manadtes at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year to each household in rural areas whose adult members volunteers to do unskilled manual work. In addition to this, there is  a  provision  for  additional  50  days  of  unskilled  wage  employment  in  a  financial  year  in drought/natural  calamity  notified  rural areas. As  per  Section 3  (4)  of  the  Mahatma  Gandhi NREG Act, 2005, the State Governments may make provision for providing additional days beyond the period guaranteed under the Act from their own funds.

(e) :   As per section 6(1) of Mahatma Gandhi NREGA, the Central Government may, by notification, specify the wage rate for unskilled work for its beneficiaries. Accordingly, the Ministry  of  Rural  Development  notifies  wage  rate  for  unskilled  workers  under  Mahatma Gandhi NREGA every financial year. To compensate the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (Mahatma Gandhi NREGS) workers against inflation, the Ministry  of  Rural  Development  revises  the  wage  rates  every  financial  year  based  on Consumer  Price  Index  for  Agricultural  Labourer  (CPI-AL).  The  wage  rate  is  made applicable from 1st April of each financial year.

(f) :       Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (Mahatma Gandhi NREGS)  is  a  gender  neutral  programme  which  promotes  participation  of  women  by providing wage parity with men, provision of separate schedule of rates of wages for women, facilities  for  creche,  work-side  sheds  for  children  and  child  care  services.  In  convergence with NRLM, women mates have also been introduced, which again facilitate the participation of  women.   The  Scheme  also  endeavors  to  provide  works  near  the  residence  of  the beneficiaries.  These measures enhance participation of women.

Following  welfare  measures  to  workers  under  Mahatma  Gandhi  NREGA  at  worksite,   as elaborated in Schedule II of Mahatma Gandhi NREGA, 2005, also promote health and safety of women:-

- i. Priority  shall  be  given  to  women  in  such  a  way  that  at  least  one-third  of  the beneficiaries shall be women who have registered and requested for work. Efforts to increase participation of single women shall be made.
- ii. The facilities of safe drinking water, shade for children and periods of rest, first aid box  with  adequate  material  for  emergency  treatment  for  minor  injuries  and  other health  hazards  connected  with  the  work  being  performed  shall  be  provided  at  the works site.
- iii. In case the number of children below the age of five years accompanying the women working at any site is five  or  more, provision  shall  be  made to  depute one of  such women workers to look after such children.  The person so deputed shall be paid wage rate.
- iv. If  any  personal  injury  is  caused  to  any  person  employed  under  the  Scheme  by  any accident arising out of and in the course of his employment, he shall be entitled to such medical treatment as required, free of cost.
- v. Where hospitalisation of the injured worker is necessary, the State Government shall arrange for such hospitalisation including accommodation, treatment, medicines and payment of daily allowance which is not less than half of the wage rate.
- vi. If  a  person  employed  under  the  Scheme  meets  with  death  or  becomes  permanently disabled by accident arising out of and in the course of employment, he or his legal heirs, as the case may be, shall be paid by the implementing agency an ex gratia as per entitlements under the Aam Aadmi BimaYojana or as may be notified by the Central Government.
- vii. If any personal injury is caused by accident to a child accompanying a person who is employed under the Scheme, such person shall be entitled to medical treatment free of cost;  and  in  case  of  death  or  disablement  of  the  child  due  to  the  said  accident,  ex gratia shall be paid to the legal guardians as determined by the State Government.
- viii. Grievance redressal mechanisms are required to be set up at all levels including the block  and  the  district  level.  Ombudspersons  have  also  been  mandated  for  all  the districts  implementing   the  Scheme.  In  addition,  the  same  can  also  be  taken  up  in course of social audit. The Central Govt. monitors the disposal of grievance through its system of CPGRAM. These measures also promote the safety of the women.