Question : UNEMPLOYMENT ALLOWANCE

(a) whether the Government is paying unemployment allowance to the labourer under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA); and

(b) if so, the details thereof; State-wise?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI CHANDRA SEKHAR SAHU)

(a)&(b): Unemployment allowance becomes payable in case a job seeker is not provided employment within 15 days of receipt of his application seeking employment or from the date on which the employment has been sought in case of an advance application, whichever is later. Unemployment allowance is paid by the State Government from its own resources. Government of Madhya Pradesh has reported to have paid a total of Rs. 475386 to 1574 applicants as unemployment allowance in Barwani district. Unemployment allowance has also been paid in Bolangir district (Mirdhapalli Gram Panchayat in Bolangir block) and Navrangpur district (Block Tentulikhunti) of Orissa. The State Government is also in the process of paying unemployment allowance in Kalahandi district of Orissa in Gopinathpur Gram Panchayat of Rampur block and Giginda Gram Panchayat in Narala block. Payment of unemployment allowance has not been reported by any other State.