Question : EXPENDITURE UNDER MGNREGS



(a) the amount allocated and released by the Central Government for Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) during each of the last three years and the current year to various States, State-wise;

(b) the amount spent by each State during the said period;

(c) the reasons for under-utilisation of allocation by the States;

(d) the action taken by the Government in this regard in view of its adverse effect on effective implementation of the Scheme; and

(e) the number of persons registered and employment provided under the Scheme during the said period in the country including Madhya Pradesh, State-wise?

Answer given by the minister


MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT(SHRI PRADEEP JAIN ‘ADITYA’)

(a) to (e): Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) is demand driven and funds are released to Districts/States on the basis of agreed to Labour Budget. MGNREGA is implemented as demand driven schemes, to be prepared and implemented by the State Governments. There is no allocation of funds to States. Funds are released to States as per their requirements which is assessed on the basis of advance projection of labour demand. A statement showing Central funds released, total expenditure incurred, cumulative number of households issued job cards and number of households provided employment State/UTs wise during the last three years and current year as reported by States/UTs is given in Annexure. MGNREGA provides a legal guarantee of wage employment to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work subject to an overall ceiling of 100 days of employment per household in every financial year. Para 1 of Schedule-II of MGNREG Act stipulates that adult members of every household who reside in rural areas and are willing to do unskilled manual work may apply for registration of their household for issuance of a job card. However, under the Act, mere issuance of a job card does not entitle a household to receive employment. Under Para 9 of Schedule II of the Act, the household also has to submit application for work to be entitled to receive employment. As employment is provided on demand, households provided employment and utilization of funds by the States/UTs depend on demand for employment.