Question : .WORKS AND MONITORING UNDER NREGS

(a) whether some parameters has been laid down for fixing priority of works by the Government under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS);

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the order of priority for selection of work are being followed by the States;

(d) if so, the details thereof and if not the reasons therefor;

(e) whether the Government is satisfied with the role of National Level Monitors and the Area officers who monitor the progress of the work under the Act;

(f) if so, the details of review undertaken so far by the Government; and

(g) the details of practical difficulties pointed out by such monitors with regard to implementation of works?

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

(a) & (b): Works to be taken up under NREGA have been listed in their order of priority in Section (1) of Schedule (I) of the Act. These are as under:


(i) water conservation and water harvesting;

(ii) drought proofing (including afforestation and tree plantation);

(iii) irrigation canals including micro and minor irrigation works;

(iv) provision of irrigation facility, horticulture plantation and land development facilities on land owned by households belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes or to Below Poverty Line Families or to beneficiaries of land reforms or to the beneficiaries under the Indira Awas Yojna of the Government of India;

(v) renovation of traditional water bodies including desilting of tanks;

(vi) land development;

(vii) flood control and protection works including drainage in water logged areas;

(viii) rural connectivity to provide all-weather access; and
(ix) any other work which may be notified by the Central Government in consultation with the State Government.

(c) & (d): Yes, Sir. During 2006-07, works relating to water conservation and water harvesting, drought proofing, irrigation facilities and flood control constituted around 62% of the total works taken up under the Act. During the current year, so far, around 65% of the works taken up are of these categories.

(e) & (f): Yes, Sir. Review of the progress of the implementation of NREGA is done on regular basis. NREGA has been reviewed at the highest level in Prime Minister`s review meeting on 20.6.2007. Performance Review Committee meetings are undertaken by the Minister of Rural Development and Secretary (Rural Development) from time to time. During the year 2007-2008, three Regional Review Committee meetings have been held to cover review of all States. Members of the Central Employment Guarantee Council also conduct field visits in various States to review the progress of the Act. Vigilance and Monitoring Committees have been set up to review the implementation of the Act.

Progress of NREGA was also reviewed in the interactive session with Members of Parliament held during 20th-23rd August, 2007 and 5th-6th September, 2007. National Level Monitors (NLMs) and Area Officers of the Ministry visit various districts to oversee the progress of the Act. NLMs have so far made 331 visits to phase I and Phase II districts.

(g): NLMs have so far not highlighted any difficulty in the implementation of the works.