Question : Allocation for MGNREGS

(a) the funds proposed by the Ministry before the Finance Minister for Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in 2021-22;

(b) the reaction of the Ministry on the depleted allocation for MGNREGS for 2021-22;

(c) whether the allocation for 2021-22 is sufficient in view of repeated demand for increasing the number of working days from 100 to 150; and

(d) the details of dues to be released to various States as of 1st March, 2021, State-wise and the steps taken to release the same?

MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a)to(c): An amount of Rs.73,000 crore has been allocated for the implementation of Mahatma Gandhi NREGS for FY 2021-22 as BE. This is 18.69% more than B.E. of FY 2020-21 for MGNREGS.

Mahatma Gandhi NREGS is a demand driven wage employment programme. Fund release to States/UTs is a continuous process and Central Government is committed to making funds available keeping in view the demand for work. The Ministry seeks additional funds from Ministry of Finance as and when required for meeting the demand for work on the ground.

No proposal for raising the guaranteed employment to 150 days per year for a household is under consideration. However, an additional 50 days of wage employment are provided over and above 100 days in the notified drought affected areas or natural calamity areas in the country on recommendation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. As per the provision of the Act, State Government may provide additional persondays employment over and above the generated 100 days employment at their own resource.

(d): The details of dues to be released to States/UTs as on 01.03.2021are given at Annexure. As on 12.3.2021, total wage liability has come down to Rs.393922.67 lakh. The Ministry is committed to provide fund for implementation as per the Scheme Guidelines.

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Annexure referred in reply to part (d) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.3357 dated 16.03.2021
Dues as on 01-Mar-2021