Lok Sabha Question No. 1151 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-03
Subject: Release of funds under MGNREGS
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri Pradeep Purohit

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1151 ANSWERED ON 03/12/2024

## RELEASE OF FUNDS UNDER MGNREGS 1151. SHRI PRADEEP PUROHIT:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENTbe pleased to state:

- (a) the total amount allocated for Jharsuguda and Bargarh districts  in  Odisha  under  the  Mahatma  Gandhi  National  Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS); and
- (b) whether the Government has taken any step to ensure timely release of funds to meet local employment demands?

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

- (a): 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.

Details  of  expenditure  incurred  in  Jharsuguda  and  Bargarh districts of Odisha under the Mahatma Gandhi NREGS in the three financial years from 2022-23 to 2024-25 (as on 28.11.2024) are given below:

| Total Expenditure (Rs. in crore)   | Total Expenditure (Rs. in crore)   | Total Expenditure (Rs. in crore)   | Total Expenditure (Rs. in crore)   |
|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
| District of Odisha                 | 2024-25 (as on 28.11.24)           | 2023-24                            | 2022-23                            |
| Jharsuguda                         | 23.94                              | 54.91                              | 56.36                              |
| Bargarh                            | 64.20                              | 156.41                             | 165.33                             |

(As per NREGASoft)

During the current financial year 2024-25 (as on 28.11.2024) an amount  of  Rs.  3,031.  49 crore  has  been  released  towards  wage, material &  administrative contingency to the State of Odisha under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS.

- (b):    The  Ministry  has  made  concerted  efforts  to  reduce  delays  in payment of wages. A Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) on timely payment process for direct payment into the account of beneficiaries was issued and its implementation by the States/ UTs is being monitored on a regular basis. In addition, use of platforms such  as  PFMS/NeFMS  has  enabled  real-time  monitoring  of  the payments.  The  Ministry  has  taken  various  steps  to  ensure  timely payment of wages to workers under the Mahatma Gandhi NREGS. These include:
- (i) Implementation of National Electronic Fund Management System (Ne-FMS).  It  has  been  implemented  in  all  States  and  3  Union Territories.
- (ii) Intensive consultation with State Governments and other stakeholders  to  ensure  timely  payment  of  wages,  verification  of pending compensation claims etc.
- (iii)  Formulation of Standard Operating Procedure for monitoring of timely payment of wages and payment of delay compensation.
- (iv) States/UTs are regularly requested to ensure the timely regeneration  of  rejected  transactions  and  correction  of  invalid accounts as per information provided by PFMS.
- (v) Aadhaar Based Payment System (ABPS) has been made mandatory since January 1, 2024, to ensure faster, safer, and timely wage disbursement to beneficiaries under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS.
- (vi)  Capturing  of  real-time  attendance  through  the  National  Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS).

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