Lok Sabha Question No. 1993 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-05
Subject: MGNREGS in Drought Hit Areas
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: MUTHAMSETTI SRINIVASA RAO (AVNTHI)

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1993

TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.05.2016

## MGNREGS IN DROUGHT HIT AREAS

## 1993. SHRI MUTHAMSETTI SRINIVASA RAO (AVANTHI):

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether 31 per cent of the Gram panchayats in drought affected districts had any expenditure under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Sche (MGNREGS) according to official data till 31 st March, 2016, if so, the details the State/UT - wise;
- (b) whether Swaraj Abhiyan leader had written to the Government specifying the im measures  needs  to  be  taken  to  alleviate  the  sufferings  of  the  rural  popul drought conditions, i f so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the  response  of  the  Ministry  thereto  and  measures  being  taken  to  tackle  t situation in rural areas across the country, State/UT - wise including Maharashtra?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI SUDARSHAN BHAGAT)

(a): No, Madam. As per the Programme Management Information System (MIS), only 5 p cent of the Gram Panchayats in drought affected districts had not shown any expend Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) till 31 st March, 2016.

(b)&(c): Writ Petition No.857/2015 - Swaraj Abhiyan Vs. Union of India & others is s subjudice  in  the  Supreme  Court  of  India  wherein  the  issue  pertaining  to  MGNREGA drought affected states is al so  being  discussed.  No  direction  from  the  Hon'ble  Court  has  been received as of now.

Measures taken by the Ministry to tackle the drought situation in rural areas acro are given as under:

In  the  areas  declared  drought,  under  MGNREGA  extra  5 0  days  of  guaranteed  wage employment in financial year, over and above 100 days of guaranteed wage employme been allowed.

- In  current  financial  year  a  national  target  of  constructing  5  lakh  Farm MGNREGA was kept, against this States/ UTs in their annual labour budget and shelf of w for the year 2016 - 17 has kept the target of 8, 82, 325 Farm Ponds to augment water for irrigatio Maharashtra has kept target of constructing 1000 Farm Ponds in year 2016 - 17;

In  addition  to  Farm  Ponds,  foll owing  types  of  works  given  below  are  being  taken  up  un MGNREGA to tackle drought situation.

(i) Water conservation and water harvesting structures to augment and improve ground like underground dykes, earthen dams, stop dams, check dams with spe cial focus on recharging groundwater including drinking water sources;

(ii)Watershed management works such as contour trenches, terracing, contour bunds, checks, gabion structures and spring shed development resulting in a comprehensive t ent of a watershed;

(iii) Micro and minor irrigation works and creation, renovation and maintenance of canals and drains;

(iv) Renovation of traditional water bodies including desilting   of irrigation tanks and water bodies;

(v) Afforestation, tree plantation and horticulture in common and forest lands, r canal bunds, tank foreshores and coastal belts duly providing right to usufruct to covered in Paragraph 5

(vi) Improving  productivity  of  lands of  households  specified  in  Paragraph  5  through developmentand by providing suitable infrastructure for irrigation including dug wel waterharvesting structures;

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