Question : UTILISATION OF EMPLOYMENT DAYS

(a) whether there exist wide differences between the number of households registered for job cards and those actually provided employment under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS);

(b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise and the reasons therefor;

(c) whether the Government is also aware that optimal utilisation of employment days stipulated under the scheme has not taken place;

(d) if so, the reasons therefor alongwith the details regarding the average number of days for which employment opportunities were utilised annually during each of the last three years, State-wise; and

(e) the steps taken to ensure optimal utilisation of employment stipulated under MGNREGS?

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

(a)&(b): Para 1 of Schedule-II of Mahatma Gandhi NREGA stipulates that adult members of every household who reside in any rural areas and are willing to do unskilled manual work may apply for registration of their household for issuance of a job card. However, under the Act, mere issuance of a job card does not entitle a household to receive employment. The household holding a Job Card has to, under Para 9 of Schedule II of the Act, submit application for work to be entitled to receive employment. Therefore, the number of households provided employment has to be seen against the number of households who demanded employment. State-wise details of the number of households possessing job card and the number of households provided employment is given in Annexure-I.

(c)&(d): Employment under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA is provided on demand. Number of days of employment availed by a household under the Act depends upon the availability of other employment opportunities in an area. A worker is free to avail any other employment opportunity available to him. State-wise average number of days of employment per household is given in Annexure-II.

(e): Awareness generation among rural population about their legal rights under the Act has been taken up through intensive IEC activities using print as well as electronic media.