Question : Exclusion of Aged Persons as Beneficaries under MGNREGS

(a) whether the Government has issued any order excluding people over the age of 65 years from taking part in works offered under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether around 53,000 aged people would be excluded by virtue of the said order in the State of Kerala which form around one-third of the State MGNREGS beneficiaries and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government is likely to withdraw this order considering the current economic deprivation; and

(d) if so, the time period and if not, the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a) No, Sir. The mandate of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (Mahatma Gandhi NREGA) is to provide for not less than 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to every rural household whose adult member volunteers to do unskilled manual work.

(b) to (d) Do not arise.