Question : Wage Rate under MGNREGS

(a) the details of existing minimum wages fixed for unskilled manual workers/labourers under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme(MGNREGS) across the country, State/UT-wise;
(b) whether the Government proposes to revise the rate of wages under MGNREGS, if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise;

(c) the details of suggestions received from various quarters in this regard;

(d) whether the revised wage rates for unskilled manual workers under the MGNREGS for the year 2015-16 has been put into effect in all the States and UTs, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor, State/UT-wise;

(e) whether the scheme is functional in all gram panchayats across the country, if not, the reasons therefor and the reaction of the Government thereto;

(f) the details of total amount pending in terms of wages to the beneficiaries alongwith the average delay period in disbursement of wages, State/UT-wise; and

(g) the corrective steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?

(b)&(c): An expert Committee under the Chairmanship of Prof. S. Mahendra Dev was constituted by the Government to suggest the methodology for resetting the base rate and for suggesting a proper index for revising MGNREGAwage rates yearly. The Committee has recommended to adopt - the existing MGNREGA wage rate as in 2014, or the Minimum Wage prescribed under the Minimum Wages Act whichever is higher – as the base wage rate for 2014. The Committee has also recommended adopting Consumer Price Index (Rural) for indexation of the wages instead of the Consumer Price Index (Agricultural Labour). The recommendations of the Committee are under examination.



(d): Yes, Madam. State/UT-wise details of the notified wage rate for the year 2015-16 (w.e.f. 1stApril, 2015) is given at Annexure-I.

(e): Yes, Madam.

(f): State/UT wise detail of total amount pending in terms of wages to the beneficiaries along with the average delay period in disbursement of wages is given in Annexure-II.

(g): In order to ensure timely payment wages, Rules have been issued for timely payment of wages. All cases of delayed payment attract compensation @ 0.05% per day of delay, which is automatically calculated and paid by the State Government. The Ministry has also initiated Electronic Fund Management System (e-FMS) which directly credits wages to the respective beneficiary accounts using the core banking system.



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