GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT 

LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO: 278

ANSWERED ON: 29.08.2013

MGNREGS

(a) the number of households provided employment under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) during each of the last three years and the current year, State/ UT-wise; 

(b) whether any mechanism has been put in place to monitor periodically the MGNREGS at National, State and district levels and to check misuse of funds across the country; 

(c) if so, the details thereof including the outcome of such review for the last quarter; and 

(d) the details of the success achieved by the Government in the implementation of the scheme so far along with the steps taken by the Government for its effective implementation? 

ANSWER

(a)to(d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House. 

 Statement as referred to in reply to parts (a) to (d) of LokSabha Starred Question No. 278 for answer on 29.08.2013.   

(a): The State/UT-wise number of households provided employment under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) during each of the last three years and the current year is indicated in the Annexure. 

 (b): The responsibility of implementation of MGNREGA is vested with the State Governments in accordance with the Schemes formulated by them. There is a comprehensive system of monitoring and review of the implementation of MGNREGA, which, inter alia, include Periodic Progress Report, Performance Review Committee meetings, Quarterly Regional Reviews, Area Officers` Scheme, National Level Monitors and Vigilance & Monitoring Committees at the State and District levels. Independent monitoring and verification by National Level Monitors (NLMs) and Officers/team of officers of the Ministry are also carried out in cases of specific complaints. The findings and reports of such review meetings and visits are shared with the concerned States/UT Governments for follow up action. Complaints received in the Ministry on various issues like job cards not provided, misappropriation of funds, engagement of contractors, forgery of muster roll, manipulation in job cards, under payment of wages, non-payment of wages, corruption and other irregularities, use of machinery, delay in payments etc. are forwarded to the concerned State Governments for taking appropriate action including investigation, as per law. Enquiry reports are analyzed at the Central level and advisories are issued to the State Governments for initiation of departmental inquiry, proceedings for disqualification/ termination in respect of elected officials, lodging of FIR against the delinquent official(s) in case prima facie a criminal intent is established, recovery of amount misappropriated etc. Detailed instructions by way of Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for dealing with complaints have also been issued to all States/UTs and have been displayed on website www.nrega.nic.in. 

(c): The last meeting of the Performance Review Committee (PRC) on Rural Development programmes including MGNREGA was held on 27th and 28th May, 2013 which discussed in detail various aspects of the programme implementation including planning, capacity building, deployment of human resources, fund management issues, short release of state share, complaints and grievance redressal, administrative expenses, execution of works, timely payment of wages etc. The officers of the Ministry were deputed to various states during May-July, 2013 for an on-the-spot inspection of implementation of Rural Development programmes including MGNREGA under Area Officers` Scheme. The Comptroller & Auditor General of India has also submitted findings on the Performance Audit of MGNREGA in its Report No. 6 of 2013. The report has been analyzed in detail and advisories have been issued to the States/UTs for appropriate corrective action on the basis of the report. 

(d): The primary objective of MGNREGA is to enhance the livelihood security of the rural households, by providing on demand at least 100 days of guaranteed unskilled wage employment in a year to every rural household. Creation of durable assets and strengthening the livelihood resource base of the rural poor is also an important objective of the Act. Schedule-I of MGNREGA as amended from time to time lists the category of works on which the Schemes formulated by State Governments under Section 4(1) of the Act for giving effect to the provisions of the Act shall focus upon. These primarily include water harvesting and irrigation, flood control and protection, land development, plantation, environmental protection and conservation, sanitation, horticulture, livestock, water and soil conservation works, drought proofing, afforestation, works relating to augmenting natural resource base for improving rural economy, rural connectivity etc.  The Ministry of Rural Development had engaged Institutions like Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Indian Institute of Management (IIMs), Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), National Institute of Rural Development (NIRD), National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO) and other professional institutions to conduct studies and surveys on the implementation of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). Some major findings of such studies related to impact of MGNREGA works are:   

(i) Increase in Agriculture wages and enhanced bargaining power of rural poor.   

(ii) Creation of environmental friendly jobs.   

(iii) Reduction in soil erosion and enhancement in soil organic matter 

 (iv) Improvement in ground water table, agricultural productivity and cropping intensity. 

 (v) Reduction in water vulnerability index, agriculture vulnerability, livelihood vulnerability index. 

As per the information available with the Ministry, the year 2012-13 witnessed a better performance under the Act than the year 2011-12. The volume of wage-employment grew from 216.34 cr. person

days in 2011-12 to 228.16 cr. person-days in 2012-13. The average person-days per household and women participation rate were 43, 46 person-days and 48 per cent and 52 per cent during 2011-12 and 2012-13, respectively. Out of the total works taken up during 2012-13, 54% of the works were related to water conservation. To ensure effective implementation of the provisions of the Act, Operational Guidelines have been issued from time to time, and last revised with effect from 01.04.2013. The Guidelines give detailed procedures on all aspects of the programme. The Operational Guidelines, inter alia, require the States to:  # initiate appropriate IEC campaigns including wall writings for wide dissemination of the provisions of the Act;  # carry out of door-to-door survey to identify needy and eligible households for registration under MGNREGA;  # expand scope and coverage of the demand registration system to ensure that demand for work under MGNREGA do not go unregistered;  # organize Rozgar Divas periodically to capture latent demand under the programme and to disseminate awareness about other provisions of the Act;  # prepare development plans and shelf of projects by adhering to the timelines as defined in the Guidelines; # prepare realistic labour budgets after assessing appropriate quantum and timing of demand for works; # adhere to the time schedule for works` execution and monitor asset quality;  # ensure timely payment of wages to the job seekers;  # maintain proper financial records;  # ensure transparency and accountability at each level of programme implementation and rolling out of a robust vigilance and grievance redressal system.