Question : INTERLINKING OF MGNREGS WITH SANITATION

(a) whether the Government is considering interlinking MGNREGS to eradicate the problem of open defecation by 2010;

(b) if so, whether interlinking would lead to utilization of funds available under material and labour components of MGNREGS and thereby expedite programme;

(c) whether the Government`s total sanitation programme has so far covered only 61.79 per cent of rural areas;

(d) whether under this scheme there would be a different wage index under the scheme,one that may not necessarily be linked to the price index but will be close to real wages;and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

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

(a): No, Sir. Convergence initiatives have been taken with the select Ministries/Departments in respect of permissible works under the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA. The activities involved in the total sanitation campaign scheme are not permissible works under the Act.

(b): Does not arise.

(c): With the implementation of Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC), total sanitation coverage in rural areas as reported by the States over online monitoring system has increased to about 66.97% by the end of June 2010.

(d) & (e): Do not arise in view of (a) above.