MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI UPENDRA KUSHWAHA)
(a) to(e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
Statement referred to in reply to Lok Sabha Starred Question No.243 due for Answer on 24.07.2014
(a)&(b)There are certain complaints pertaining to delayed payment of wages and other irregularities under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act(MGNREGA), details of which are at Annexure. As a follow up action, the Ministry has categorised these complaints into (i) grievances/complaints on procedural violation of programme guidelines, (ii) complaints relating to violation of provisions of the Act, and (iii) complaints on financial irregularities. These cases are referred to the States/UTs concerned to initiate appropriate action.As on 30.06.2014, out of 3641 complaints received by the Ministry, 1769 complaints have been disposed off by the States/UTs.
(c) The payment of wages under MGNREGA is delayed beyond the stipulated period of 15 days due to various reasons like lack of adequate administrative and technical staff, inadequate spread of banks/ post offices, lack of connectivity, etc.
(d) The Act has already provided for conduct of social audit at least once in every six months which, inter-alia, includes verification of every worksite to cross check measurements in the field with that on Measurement Book, verification of payments made and assessment of the outcomes from execution of a work. Apart from this, we have the National Level Monitors, Ombudspersons and the Vigilance & Monitoring Committees to check the implementation on the ground.
(e) The major steps taken by the Government to improve the programme implementation under MGNREGA are as follows: # At least 60% of the works to be taken up in a district in terms of cost shall be for creation of productive assets directly linked to agriculture and allied activities through development of land, water and trees.
# The wage-material ratio for works taken up by agencies other than Gram Panchayats would be counted at the district level to facilitate taking more durable assets.
# The associated outcomes of each work would be estimated before taking up the work and the same would be measured after completion of the work-thereby bringing in more focus on outcomes.
# The quality of the assets is sought to be improved through better planning and closer technical supervision.
# States/UTs have been asked to operationalize the provision relating to compensation for delayed wage payments as per Para-29, Schedule II of MGNREGA 2005.
# States/UTs have been asked to strengthen Social audits of MGNREGS works in accordance with the provisions of the Audit of Schemes Rules 2011 issued in consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.
# With a view to avoid bogus attendance and to check instances of tempering and misuse of muster rolls, the e-Muster system has been introduced.
# For smooth fund flow, the electronic Fund Management System (e-FMS) has been introduced which would also reduce delays in payment of wages.
# All States have been requested to appoint Ombudsman at the district level for grievance redressal.
# The State and district level Vigilance and Monitoring Committees monitor the scheme. These are now being reconstituted.
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