Lok Sabha Question No. 737 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-07
Subject: Problems with Digital Attendance under MGNREGS
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Geetha Viswanath Vanga

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

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 737 ANSWERED ON 07/02/2023

## PROBLEMS WITH DIGITAL ATTENDANCE UNDER MGNREGS

## 737. SHRIMATI VANGA GEETHA VISWANATH:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  there  are  several  problems  with  digital attendance  for  Mahatma  Gandhi  National  Rural  Employment  Guarantee  Scheme (MGNREGS) such as lack of smartphones or lack of internet  connectivity  in  rural areas and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government is also aware that it is very difficult for the Panchayat Rojgar Sahayak  (PRS)  to  travel  to  several  sites  every  day  to  register  attendance  who  is entrusted  with  responsibility  in  case  of  workers  not  having  smartphone,  leading  to workers missing out on their attendance;
- (c) if so, the steps taken by the Government to prevent these problems;
- (d) whether the Government plans to install a grievance agency soon for such matters as currently there is no such agency for the workers; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  to  (c):    Government  of  India  has  decided  that  States/UTs  shall  ensure  capturing  of attendance for all the works (except individual beneficiary scheme/project) through National Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS)  App  under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment  Guarantee  Scheme  (Mahatma  Gandhi  NREGS).  This  digitally  capturing  of attendance for  all  worksite  (except  individual  beneficiary  Scheme/project)  is  in  place  from 01 st January, 2023.

Mates are encouraged to take the responsibility of capturing the attendance of  the workers through  the  NMMS  App.  The  Ministry  has  been  providing  training  to  the  States/UTs  to ensure  smooth  transitioning  to  NMMS  app  as  and  when  requested  by  the  States/UTs.  The technical issues being faced are taken up with NIC, Rural Development on real time basis. The new provisions/ suggestions requested by the States/UTs are being incorporated. All the issues concerning the NMMS application are reviewed and resolved from time to time. Some important decisions taken as per request of State Governments are given below:

1. NMMS application has been modified to capture second photograph just after the 4 hours  from  the  uploading  of  attendance  and  first  photograph.  It  has  eased  out  the specific  time  point  requirement  for  capturing  the  attendance  and  photographs.  The morning attendance along with the first photograph can be captured in offline mode and to be uploaded once device comes in network.
2. In case of exceptional circumstances due to which attendance could not be uploaded, the District Programme Coordinator (DPC) has been authorised to upload the manual attendance.

All States/UTs are using NMMS App for capturing the attendance for eligible worksites. So far, no specific issue related to non use of NMMS App due to non availability of smart phone has come to the notice of this Ministry.

(d) & (e)    As per Section-19 of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act,  "The  State  Government  shall,  by  rules,  determine  appropriate  grievance  redressal mechanisms at the Block level and the District level for dealing with any complaint by any person in respect of implementation of the Scheme and lay down the procedure for disposal of such complaints."

Complaints under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS is received through various channels:

1.  Grievances  from  field  by  registering  the  complaint  in  complaint  register   maintained  at Gram Panchayat level.
2. Online Central Public Grievance Redressal and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS)
3.  Issues reported to Ombudsperson at district level

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