Question : AGRICULTURAL WORK UNDER MGNREGS

(a) whether the Government has a plan to make it mandatory that 60% of work in a district under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) should be linked to agriculture and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Union Government has sent the proposal to States for their comments;

(c) if so, the response thereof, State/ UT-wise;

(d) the time by which the proposed change is likely to be incorporated in the Act; and

(e) whether stress on 60% minimum expenditure on farm related activity would discourage other capital-intensive work undertaken under MGNREGS and if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI UPENDRA KUSHWAHA)

(a) to (d) Yes, Madam. The Ministry is considering to amend the Schedule I of the MGNREGA 2005 to ensure that at least 60% of the works to be taken up in a district in terms of cost are for creation of productive assets directly linked to agriculture and allied activities through development of land, water and trees. Comments on the draft proposal have been received from Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Sikkim, Telangana, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu. All these States, except Sikkim have supported the proposal.

(e) The expenditure on works for creation of assets directly limited to agriculture and allied activities works under MGNREGA, as the balance 40% of the expenditure can be on other infrastructure works.