Question : Review of Wages Paid under MGNREGS

(a) whether a committee has been constituted by the Government to review the wages paid under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and if so, the details thereof

(b) whether the committee has submitted its report to the Government and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the wages under MGNREGS are substantially low as compared to minimum wages for agriculture and construction works in many States and if so, the comparative details of MGNREGS and minimum wages in different States;

(d) whether revision of wages under MGNREGS is under consideration of the Government; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI RAM KRIPAL YADAV)

(a) & (b): Yes, Madam. The Ministry of Rural Development has constituted a Committee to revisit the norms of wages under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). The Committee has held two meetings in this regard. The recommendation of the Committee is awaited.

(c): Under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, States/UTs may fix different minimum rates of wages payable to employees employed in different categories of employment and these rates may be fixed for a part of the State or for any specified class or classes of such employment in the whole State or part thereof. Hence, there is no single wage rate fixed for unskilled manual labourers common to all categories of employment. In view of this, no comparison can be made with notified wage rates under MGNREGS.

(d) & (e): Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) wage rate is linked to state-wise Consumer Price Index for Agricultural Labourer (CPI-AL) which is revised on yearly basis and implemented during the Financial Year in States/UTs. Wage rates for workers under the MGNREGA are notified and revised annually by the Central Government in accordance with the provisions of Section 6(1) of the Act.



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