Lok Sabha Question No. 278 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-20
Subject: MGNREGS in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Prathap Simha, Umesh G. Jadhav, D. M. Kathir Anand, Annasaheb Shankar Jolle, B. Y. Raghavendra

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

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 278 ANSWERED ON 20/07/2021

## MGNREGS IN KARNATAKA AND TAMIL NADU

## 278. SHRI PRATHAP SIMHA:

DR. UMESH G. JADHAV:

SHRI D.M. KATHIR ANAND:

SHRI ANNASAHEB SHANKAR JOLLE:

SHRI B.Y. RAGHAVENDRA:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  undertaken  any  assessment  of  the  works  done  under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) during the  COVID-19  i.e.  during  the  periodof  March  2020  to  June  2021  in  the  State  of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, if so, the details thereof; and
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  paid  all  the  dues  to  the  MGNREGS  workers  during  the period  March  2020-  June  2021  in  the  States  of  Karnataka  and  Tamil  Nadu,  if  so,  the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) Mahatma  Gandhi  National  Rural  Employment  Guarantee  Scheme  (Mahatma  Gandhi NREGS) is a demand driven wage employment programme which provide for the enhancement of livelihood security of the households in rural areas of the country by providing at least one hundred days of guaranteed wage employment in every financial year to every household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.

The responsibility of implementation of  Mahatma  Gandhi  NREGA  is  vested  with  the Government  of  States/UTs  (including  Karnataka  and  Tamil  Nadu).  The  Ministry  has  a comprehensive system of monitoring and review mechanism for Mahatma Gandhi NREGS. The Ministry regularly reviews the performance of the implementation of Mahatma Gandhi NREGS in States/UTs through various media viz., Mid-Term Review, Labour Budget meetings, Labour Budget Revision meetings, programme review meetings.

Central Employment Guarantee Council and State Employment Guarantee Councils periodically monitor  implementation  of  the  programme.   National  Level  Monitors,  Common  Review Missions and Officers of the Ministry visit States/UTs at regular interval to review implementation  of  the programme.  After  the  field visits, the findings/shortcomings  and recommendations are shared  with the  States/UTs  for  appropriate  action  at  their  end.  Auditing Standards have been issued and States/UTs have been advised to establish independent Social Audit Units, conduct Social Audit as per Audit of Scheme Rules and training of Village resource persons for conducting Social Audit etc. Internal Audit Teams of the Department also conduct regular audit. All grievances/ complaints received in the Ministry are forwarded to the concerned States/UTs  for  taking  appropriate  action  including  investigation,  as  per  law.  Steps  have  been taken to strengthen transparency and accountability which include geo-tagging of assets, 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 appointment of Ombudsperson in every district of States/UTs.

(b) The  Mahatma Gandhi NREGS is a demand driven wage  employment programme  and fund release to the States/UTs (including Karnataka and Tamil Nadu) is a continuous process and Central  Government is  committed  to  making  funds  available  keeping  in  view  the  demand  for work  as  per  the  Scheme  guidelines.  During  the  previous  FY  2020-21,  Central  Government released Rs 6317.64 crore to State of Tamil Nadu and Rs. 3993.80 crore to State of Karnataka for the wage component. During the current FY 2021-22 (as on 30.06.2021), Central Government released Rs. 1169.38 crore to State of Tamil Nadu and Rs.1276.03  crore to State of Karnataka for the wage component under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS.

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