Lok Sabha Question No. 964 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-08
Subject: MGNREGS in Tamil Nadu
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: V. Kalanidhi

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 964

ANSWERED ON 08/02/2022

## MGNREGS IN TAMIL NADU

## 964. DR. KALANIDHI VEERASWAMY:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) the features of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS);
- (b) the  details  of  the  funds  sanctioned,  allocated  and  utilized  under  this  scheme  within Tamil Nadu during the last three years and the current year;
- (c) whether the Government is aware that no money left in MGNREGS coffers and many States in the red including Tamil Nadu;
- (d) whether  the  Government  is  also  aware  that  many  States  including  Tamil  Nadu  are facing  a  situation  of  MGNREGS  closing  down  halfway  through  the  year  while  the poorest and most  vulnerable communities  have  already been crushed by the pandemic's impact; and
- (e) the steps being taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE)

- (a)      The  salient  features  of  the  Mahatma  Gandhi  National  Rural  Employment  Guarantee Scheme (Mahatma Gandhi NREGS) are detailed at Annexure.
- (b)      Mahatma  Gandhi  NREGS  is  a  demand  driven  wage  employment  programme.  No State/UT-wise (including State of Tamil Nadu) financial allocation is made under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS.

The  details  of  funds  released  by  Central  Government  to  the  State  of  Tamil  Nadu  for  the implementation of Mahatma Gandhi NREG Scheme and expenditure incurred by the  State during  the  last  three  financial  years  2018-19,  2019-20,  2020-21  and  current  financial  year 2021-22 (as  on 02.02.2022) is given below:

(Rs. in crore)

| Financial Year                      | 2018-19   | 2019-20   | 2020-21   | 2021-22 (as on 02.02.2022)   |
|-------------------------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|------------------------------|
| Central funds released              | 4,951.66  | 5,447.80  | 8,549.89  | 7,610.17                     |
| Expenditure (Including State Share) | 5,766.98  | 5,621.34  | 8,435.05  | 8,601.51                     |

(Source: Management Information System)

(c)  to  (e)    Mahatma  Gandhi  NREGS  is  a  demand  driven  scheme.  Fund  release  to  the States/UTs is a continuous process and Central Government is committed in making funds available keeping in view the demand for work on the ground. In the current financial year 2021-22, the budget provision of Rs. 73,000 crore was made at Budget Estimate (BE) stage which has been enhanced to Rs. 98,000 crore at the Revised Estimate (RE) stage.

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## Annexure referred in reply to part (a) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.964 dated 08.02.2022

- i. Adult members of a rural household, willing to do unskilled manual work, may apply for registration in writing or orally to the local Gram Panchayat.
- ii. The Gram Panchayat after due verification will issue a Job Card free of cost within 15 days.
- iii. The worker has a right to demand and receive work within 15 days of the receipt of the application or the date of the demand in case of advance application, whichever is later, as mandated by the Act.
- iv. In case employment is not provided within fifteen days from the date of registration of the demand for work or the date from which work has been demanded in case of advance applications, whichever is later, the worker is legally entitled to a daily unemployment allowance.
- v. Preparation  of  Labour  Budget  (LB)  which  is  an  essential  annual  work  plan  document that entails planning, approval, funding and project execution modalities.
- vi. The shelf of projects for a village will be recommended by the gram sabha and approved by the zilla panchayat. At least 50% of works will be allotted to Gram Panchayats for execution.
- vii. Permissible works predominantly include water and soil conservation, afforestation and land development works.
- viii. A 60:40 wage and material ratio has to be maintained at the district level. No contractors and labour displacing machinery is allowed.
- ix. The Central Government bears 100 percent wage cost of unskilled manual labour and 75 percent of the material cost including the wages of skilled and semi-skilled workers.
- x. Social Audit has to be done by the Gram Sabha.
- xi. Grievance  redressal  mechanisms  have  to  be  put  in  place  for  ensuring  a  responsive implementation process.
- xii. All accounts and records relating to the Scheme should be available for public scrutiny.

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