Question : Appraisal of MGNREGS

(a) the number of households registered under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) across the country so far along with the funds provided for implementation of the scheme during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise;

(b) whether the Government has conducted any study to ensure that the beneficiaries are actually enjoying the benefits of welfare measures as provided under the scheme at work places and if so, the details and outcome thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(c) whether the cases of denial of registration to eligible households and registration of ineligible households underthe said scheme have come to the notice of the Government during the said period;

(d) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor along with the action taken/ being taken by the Government in such cases so far, State/UT-wise; and

(e) the other steps taken/being taken by the Government for effective implementation of the said scheme across the country?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI RAM KRIPAL YADAV)


(a): State/UT-wise details of the number of household registered (as on 21.11.20126) under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme are given in the Annexure-I. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) is a demand driven programme hence no State/UT-wise allocation of fund is made. The Central funds are released to the States/UTs for implementation of programme on the basis of agreed to Labour Budgets and taking into consideration the performance and the pace of utilization of available funds. State/UT-wise details of amount released under the MGNREGS during the last three years and the current year (till 16.11.2016) is indicated in Annexure-II.

(b): Several Studies have been conducted by independent research institutions on the implementation of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). These studies have been published by the Ministry of Rural Development and United Nations Development Programme (India). The results of the studies show that:

(i) MGNREGA appears to be largely successful in its targeting. Studies show that MGNREGA due to its self-selecting demand driven design is able to engage with the most vulnerable and marginalized.

(ii) Several Studies also suggest that beneficiaries find the works useful; works increased the land productivity, helped multi-cropping, helped to manage risks and reduced vulnerability.

(iii) The evidence on MGNREGA and its impact on rural labour markets are mixed.

(iv) The evidence that MGNREGA mitigates distress migration is limited to the western and the eastern contexts, is yet compelling. While women’s participation rates in MGNREGA are satisfactory at the aggregate national level much higher than the mandatory 33%, several states need to address low women participation rates in their contexts.

(c)&(d): The Ministry, under MGNREGA receives complaints of irregularities including denial of registration to eligible households and registration of ineligible households etc. in many State/UTs. Since the responsibility of implementation of MGNREGA is vested with the State Governments, all complaints received in the Ministry are forwarded to the concerned State Governments for taking appropriate action including investigation, as per law. Detailed instructions by way of Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for dealing with complaints have also been issued to all States/UTs.

(e): The major steps taken by the Government to improve the programme implementation under MGNREGA are given in the Annexure-III.

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