Lok Sabha Question No. 195 (STARRED), answered on 2023-03-14
Subject: NMMS App under MGNREGS
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu, Balashowry Vallabbhaneni

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 195

ANSWERED ON 14/03/2023

## NMMS APP UNDER MGNREGS

## *195.   SHRI LAVU SRI KRISHNA DEVARAYALU: SHRI BALASHOWRY VALLABHANENI:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has made National Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS) App mandatory for attendance of workers under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) from 1st January, 2023 and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether it is true that only two out of ten workers on the electronic muster roll turn up the worksite due to NMMS issues which results in denying them work on demand;
- (c) whether the Government is aware that MGNREGS workers are on an indefinite protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the details of problems identified/complaints received relating to the use of NMMS along with the manner in which the Government is planning to address the same;
- (e) whether it is true that all MGNREGS workers are required to upload two geo-tagged photos every day on the NMMS App else their attendance is not marked and they do not get paid for their work; and
- (f) if so, the steps taken/being taken by the Government to judiciously implement this new system considering the digital divide in the country and the fact that millions still do not have a smartphone?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI GIRIRAJ SINGH)

- (a) to (f):       A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## Statement in reply to Parts (a) to (f) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 195 for 14.03.2023

(a) to (f): Government of India has decided that State/UT shall ensure capturing of attendance for all the  works (except individual beneficiary schemes/projects) through National  Mobile Monitoring  System  (NMMS)  App  under  Mahatma  Gandhi  National  Rural  Employment Guarantee Scheme (Mahatma Gandhi NREGS) from 01 st January, 2023.

Worksite  supervisors  are  responsible  for  capturing  attendance  along  with  geo-tagged photographs 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 a 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 the second photograph just after 4 hours of uploading the 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 the device comes into a network.
2. In case of exceptional circumstances due to which attendance could not be uploaded, the District  Programme  Coordinator  (DPC)  has  been  authorized  to  upload  the  manual attendance.

So  far,  no  issue  regarding  indefinite  protest  against  NMMS  App  has  been  reported  to  the Ministry. Also, no specific issue related to the non-use of NMMS App due to the non-availability of smartphones has come to the notice of the Ministry.

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