Question : Status of MGNREGS

(a) the details of allocation of funds under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) for the State of Punjab for the last three years and the current year;

(b) whether the Government proposes to change the guidelines for the works to be undertaken under this Scheme, if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government also proposes to change the ratio of Labour Cost to Material Cost permissible under the Scheme, if so, the details thereof; and

(d) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to check misappropriation of funds and ensuring creation of durable assets?

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

(a): Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) is a demand driven programme hence no State/UT-wise allocation of fund is made. The Central funds are released to the States/UTs including Punjab on the basis of agreed to Labour Budgets and taking into consideration the performance and the pace of utilization of available funds. Details of amount released for implementation of MGNREGA to Punjab for the last three years and the current year is given as under: -

Punjab

Financial Year Central Release
(Rs. In Lakhs)

2013-14 22615.48

2014-15 18948.18

2015-16 24533.37

2016-17 till 18/07/2016 20962.62

(b): Ministry issues guidelines, advisories and manuals on works under MGNREGA as and when required.

(c): No, Madam.


(d): The Ministry, under MGNREGA receives complaints of irregularities including non-payment of wages etc. from States/UTs. Since the responsibility of implementation of MGNREGA is vested with the State Governments, all complaints received in the Ministry are forwarded to the concerned State Governments for taking appropriate action including investigation, as per law. Detailed instructions by way of Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for dealing with complaints have also been issued to all States/UTs.

The steps taken by Government for ensuring creation of durable assets are given as under: -

(i) Ministry has prepared and published ‘SAMARTHYA’ technical training manual on all the works permitted under the Act and imparted training to State Level Technical Resource Teams (STRTs). STRTs are imparting same training to District and Block Technical Resource Teams in their respective States down the line.

(ii) For cross learning between States for better implementation of the programme and creation of durable assets, the Ministry is organizing Inter-State Exchange Programmes (ISEPs).

(iii) Barefoot Technicians (BFTs) as grass root level technical functionaries are trained.

(iv) Cluster Facilitation Teams (CFTs) project has been implemented in some of the backward blocks of the country.

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