(a) whether the Government has initiated the steps for making Mahatma Gandhi
National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) more rational and
farmer-friendly in response to public demand;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the steps taken by the Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI PRADEEP JAIN `ADITYA`)
(a) to (c): The primary objective of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment
Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) is to enhance the livelihood security of the rural households
by providing up to 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in a year to every
household on demand for doing unskilled manual work. Para 1B of Schedule I of Act as
amended from time to time lists the category of works that any scheme formulated by the
States under Section 4 of the Act to give effect to the provisions of the Act, shall focus
upon. A large number of activities/works having significant impact on agriculture and
farm sector were included in para 1B of Schedule I of the Act. Vide notification dated
4.5.2012, para 1B of Schedule I has been substantially revised to include a large number
of additional activities related to water and irrigation, land development, plantation,
environmental protection and conservation, horticulture, livestock, etc. to broaden the
scope of works under MGNREGA and make it more farmer friendly.