(a) the extent to which the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) has helped in dealing with the effects of drought in various parts of the country;
(b) whether the Government proposes to strengthen MGNREGS to deal with the calamities in future; and
(c) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI PRADEEP JAIN `ADITYA`)
(a): The provisions of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) are effected as demand driven Schemes by the State Governments. In view of the deficiency in rainfall in some parts of the country which may lead to an increased demand for employment under MGNREGA, the Union Rural Development Ministry has already written to the Chief Ministers of States to prepare a contingency plan for meeting increased demand for employment under MGNREGA. The States have been assured that in drought like conditions, the Central Government will be open to revision in the Labour Budget for the current financial year to meet the increased demand for employment. The State Governments have also been advised to prepare supplementary shelf of projects to meet increased demand for work with emphasis on water and soil conservation works
so as to mitigate the impact of deficient rainfall. For this purpose, the Ministry has allowed funding the State
Governments in accordance with the provisions of Section 22 of MGNREGA for providing up to 50 days of additional
employment under MGNREGA in the financial year 2012-13 to households registered in drought notified Talukas/Blocks.
(b)&(c): To tackle unforeseen natural calamities like flood, cyclone, tsunami and earthquake resulting in dislocation
of rural population, necessary amendment in Schedule II of the MGNREG Act has been made to allow adult members of rural households of areas so affected, to seek for registration and get job card issued by Gram Panchayat or Programme Officer
of the area of temporary relocation. They may submit written or oral application for work to the Programme Officer or the Gram Panchayat of the area of temporary relocation and apply for re-registration and re-issuance of job card in the event
of loss or destruction. In the event of restoration of normalcy, the job card so issued shall be re-endorsed at original place of habitation and shall be clubbed with original card on being retrieved.