(a) whether norms for expenditure to be incurred in various heads under Mahatma
Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) have been
prescribed;
(b) the details of expenditure incurred under administrative expenses head, State-
wise;
(c) whether task rates have been fixed under the Scheme in various States; and
(d) if so, the details thereof, State-wise?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRIPRADEEP JAIN `ADITYA`)
(a): The utilization of funds under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee
Act (MGNREGA) is governed by the MGNREGA Operational Guidelines, National Employment
Guarantee Fund Rules 2006, norms and advisories issued from time to time. The Central
Government bears the entire expenditure on payment of wages at notified wage rates to
unskilled manual workers. The cost of material component of projects including the wages
of the skilled and semi-skilled workers taken up under the Scheme shall not exceed forty
per cent of the total project costs. 75% of material cost, including wages of skilled and
semiskilled workers, is borne by the Central Government. Up to 6% of funds are permitted as
administrative expenditure for deployment of dedicated staff for MGNREGA, strengthening of
management and administrative support structures for social audit, grievance redressal,
Information, Communication and Technology infrastructure etc.
(b): The details of expenditure incurred under administrative expenses head, State-wise as
reported by the States/UTs for the last three years and current year (up to October,2011)
are given in Annexure.
(c)&(d): Para 7 of Schedule I of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee
Act provides that when the wages are directly linked with the quantity of work the wages
shall be paid according to the schedule of rates fixed by the State Government for different
types of work every year, in consultation with the State Council. Formulating schedule of
rates is the responsibility of the concerned State Governments and separate State-wise data
on the same are not maintained. State Governments are to undertake comprehensive work, time
and motion studies to observe out turn and fix rates after the detailed location specific
observations.