(a) whether despite the launch of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS),huge
number of tribals and financially backward communities are still migrating to the urban area of the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government proposes to ensure their welfare/development and provide social
security at their native towns/villages;and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI PRADEEP JAIN `ADITYA`)
(a)&(b): No, Sir. A number of independent studies have been conducted by professional institutions to assess
the impact of Mahatma Gandhi NREGA in rural areas. Findings of these studies reveal that there has been
considerable decrease in distress migration from rural areas to urban areas of the country after launch
of Mahatma Gandhi NREGA. Centre for Social Development has conducted a study in tribal dominated districts
of Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh and it has been found that incidence of out- migration
from the villages to distant places for manual works had come down as a result of MGNREGA works.
(c)&(d): Mahatma Gandhi NREGA is under implementation in all rural areas of the country. The Act provides
a legal guarantee for 100 days of wage employment on demand to every rural household in a year for doing
unskilled manual work. The Act is uniformly applicable to all rural households with out any discrimination
with reference to caste, social or economic status of the beneficiaries. As per reports received from the
State Governments, participation by beneficiaries belonging to Scheduled Castes was 25% in 06-07, 27% in
07-08, 29% in 08-09 and 31% in 09-10. Participation by Schedules Tribe beneficiaries during these years
had been 36%, 29%, 25% and 21% respectively.