Lok Sabha Question No. 1176 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-03
Subject: Rural Infrastructure Development Fund
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Dr. Byreddy Shabari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1176 ANSWERED ON 03/12/2024

## RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT FUND

## 1176. DR. BYREDDY SHABARI:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has any data regarding the works undertaken in Andhra Pradesh under Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether any works under RIDF were taken for Nandyal region for FY 2023-24 or  planned  for FY 2024-25 and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has any data regarding the payment made to beneficiaries under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee  Scheme  (MGNREGS)  in  Andhra  Pradesh  and  if  so,  the details thereof;
- (d) whetherAadhaar  seeding  of  beneficiaries  of  MGNREGS  has  been completed  in  the  country  and  if  so,  the  details  of  steps  taken  to ensure that the payments are made on time; and
- (e) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  steps  to  increase  the number of working days and wages under MGNREGS and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI KAMLESH PASWAN)

(a) & (b): Ministry  of  Rural  Development  was  sanctioned  NABARD loan of  Rs  18,500  Crore  in  the  year  2007-08  for  construction/upgradation  of rural roads under PMGSY. This loan was drawn in three installment from 2007-08 to 2009-10 (Rs. 4,500 Crore in 2007-08, Rs 7,500 Crore in 2008-09 and Rs. 6,500 Crore in 2009-10). This loan amount has been utilised as a source of consolidated pool amount for execution of PMGSY works. The said  loan  amount  has  been  fully  repaid  by  the  Ministry.  No  works  under PMGSY  has been implemented using RIDF during the last five years.

(c) :   Mahatma  Gandhi  National  Rural  Employment  Guarantee  Scheme (Mahatma Gandhi NREGS) is a demand-driven wage employment scheme. Wage  payments  are  directly  credited  by  the  Central  Government  to  the account  of  beneficiaries  through  the  Direct  Benefit  Transfer protocol.  In the current Financial Year 2024-25 (as on 29.11.2024) fund released to the State of Andhra Pradesh is Rs.5495.1316 Crores in wages category.

(d): Yes,  the  Aadhar  seeding  of  beneficiaries  of  MGNREGS  has  been completed  in  the  country  and  99.41%  Aadhaar  of  Active  workers  have been  seeded  in  NREGSoft  as  on  29.11.  2024.  State/UTs  have  been requested to ensure 100%  seeding of Aadhar numbers of  NREGS beneficiaries into NREGASoft. In case States/UTs face any kind of issues or  problems,  concerning  Aadhar  seeding  the  same  are  resolved  on  a priority basis.

(e): There is no plan to increase the minimum guaranteed days in a year to the workers under the Mahatma Gandhi NREGS.  However, the Ministry mandates  the  provision  of  an  additional  50  days  of  wage  employment (beyond the stipulated 100 days) to every Scheduled Tribe Household in a forest area, provided that these households have no other private property except  for  the  land  rights  provided  under  the  Forest  Rights  Act  (FRA), 2006.

In  addition  to  this,  there  is  a  provision  for  up  to  an  additional  50 days of wage employment in a financial year in drought/natural calamityaffected notified rural areas.

Further,  as  per  Section  3  (4)  of  Mahatma  Gandhi  National  Rural Employment  Guarantee  Act,  2005,  the  State  Governments  may  make provision for providing additional days of employment beyond the period guaranteed under the Act from their own funds.

As per Section 6 (1) of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (Mahatma Gandhi NREGA), 2005, the Central Government may  by  notification  specify  the  wage  rate  for  unskilled  work  for  its beneficiaries.  Accordingly,  the  Ministry  of  Rural  Development  notifies Mahatma Gandhi NREGA wage rate for every financial year for States/UTs. To compensate the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA workers against inflation, the Ministry of Rural Development revises the wage rate every financial year based on change in Consumer Price Index for Agricultural Labour (CPI-AL).

The overall % increase in wage rate for FY 2024-25 from FY 2023-24 is about 7 %.

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