Question : Construction of Ponds under MGNREGS

(a) whether the Government is according priority to the construction of ponds and water conservation structures under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in drought affected areas;

(b) if so, the details of the number of workers securing job through digging of ponds along with the number of ponds constructed under the said scheme in Bundelkhand region during the last three years; and

(c) the details of other benefits or reliefs provided to MGNREGS workers in drought affected areas of the country including Bundelkhand region?

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

(a): As per the Schedule I of the MGNREGA Act 2005, water conservation, water harvesting and watershed management works are permitted. The State Government has been advised to accord priority to the construction of ponds and water conservation structures in drought affected areas. A Mission Water Conservation (MWC) Framework was circulated to all States/UTs on 1st November, 2016 in consultation with Ministry of Water Resource, Department of land Resource and Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare under which 2264 Mission Water Conservation Blocks spreading in 21 States of the country including Bundelkhand region were listed out. The MWC framework calls for leveraging of knowledge of Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and Central Water Commission (CWC). All NRM components of MNREGA labour budget are to be part of District Irrigation Plan (DIP) at the district level.

(b): The households are provided works on the basis of available shelf of projects during the financial year in that area and not specifically for digging of ponds only. Number of farm ponds and households provided employment during the last three years in Bundelkhand region under MGNREGS are given at Annexure.

(c): The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) provides for at least 100 days of wage employment to every rural household whose adult members are willing to do unskilled manual work. Forest Rights Act (FRA) beneficiaries are entitled to 150 days of wage employment per household in a Financial Year.

An additional 50 days of wage employment are provided over and above 100 days in the notified drought affected areas of the States/UTs on recommendation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.