(a) the number of workers belonging to Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes and women separately under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise;
(b) whether the Government has taken steps to provide unemployment allowance due to workers under MGNREGS; and
(c) if so, the details thereof; and
(d) if not, the reasons therefor?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI SUDARSHAN BHAGAT)
(a): State/UT-wise details of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and women beneficiaries under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) during the last three years and the current year are given in Annexure.
(b)to(d): As per Section 7 of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), 2005 unemployment allowance becomes payable in case an applicant is not provided employment within 15 days of receipt of his application seeking employment or from the date on which employment has been sought in case of an advance application, whichever is later. The liability for payment of unemployment allowance is on the State Governments after conducting due enquiry as per the Rules which are to be notified by the States. Government remains actively engaged with State Governments in establishing the system that ensures provision of work as per demand. In this direction, the following directives have been issued to the States:
(i) Organize ‘Rozgar Diwas’ fortnightly to register demand in all habitations.
(ii) Provision for registering demand using call centres, mobiles, kiosks and website.
(iii) Initiate appropriate IEC campaigns including wall paintings for wide dissemination of the provisions of the Act.
(iv) Organization of workers into labour groups and register groups demand.
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