Question : ALLOCATION UNDER MGNREGS

(a) the funding pattern under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS);

(b) the details of the persons provided employment and MGNREGS in the country during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UTs-wise;

(c) whether the Government proposes to provide mobile phones to the workers under MGNREGS;

(d) if so, the details thereof and the eligibility criteria fixed therefor indicating the total number of beneficiaries likely to be covered there under;

(e) whether to improve quality of assets created under MGNREGS guidelines have been issued recently to State for convergence between MGNREGS and the PradhanMantri Gram SadakYojana (PMGSY) and if so, the details thereof;

(f) whether the Government has also written to States for convergence between MGNREGS and the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) to substantially enhance quality of assets being created under MGNREGS;

(g) if so, the details thereof; and

(h) the reaction of various State Governments thereto?

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

(a) As per Section 22 of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), 2005 the Central Govt. shares the entire expenditure on payment of wages for unskilled works under the scheme and 75 per cent of material cost of the scheme including payment to skilled and semi-skilled workers. The State Government has to share 25 per cent of the material cost of the scheme. Administrative cost (6 per cent of wage and material cost) is borne entirely by the Central Government.

(b) The details of the households provided employment under MGNREGA during the last three years and the current year is indicated in the Annexure.

(c)&(d) No, Madam. Does not arise.

(e) Yes Madam. With a view to improving the quality of assets relating to rural connectivity under MGNREGA and to bring in synergy between MGNREGA and Prime Minister Gram SadakYojana (PMGSY), guidelines have recently been issued to States for convergence between these two programmes. The convergence covers road-side plantations along the PMGSY roads, maintenance of PMGSY roads after the 5 year period and taking up water conservation structures along the culverts on PMGSY roads.

(f) to (h) Yes, Madam. In order to improve the quality of assets and bring in better participation of people, MGNREGS is to be converged with the activities of Self Help Groups under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM). 1st Phase of this convergence will be implemented in 212 interior Blocks in (9) States, facilitated by Civil Society Organisations and Self Help Group federations.