Question : Irregularities under MGNREGS

(a) the details of funds released and utilised under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) during each year in last three years and current year, State/UTwise;

(b) the details of number of people availing the scheme, State/UT-wise including Gujarat;

(c) whether some cases of irregularities in use of funds including non-payment of wages under the scheme have come into notice of the Government;

(d) if so, the details thereof during each of the last three years and current year and the measures taken by the Government to check such irregularities in future;

(e) the effect of this scheme on migration for employment; and

(f) whether there has been any rural employment generation as a result thereof and if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI RAM KRIPAL YADAV)

(a): State/UT-wise details of amount released and expenditure under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) during the last three years and the current year is indicated in Annexure-I.

(b): The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) provides a legal guarantee for 100 days of employment in a financial year to every rural household of the country including Gujarat whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work. Not less than 100 days of employment are provided to registered workers upon receipt of their demand. Details of households provided employment as demanded by job card holders in States/UTs including Gujarat under the MGNREGS during the last three years and the current year are indicated in the Annexure-I.

(c)&(d): The Ministry, under MGNREGA receives complaints of irregularities including non-payment of wages etc. from States/UTs. Since the responsibility of implementation of MGNREGA is vested with the State Governments, all complaints received in the Ministry are forwarded to the concerned State Governments for taking appropriate action including investigation, as per law. Detailed instructions by way of Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for dealing with complaints have also been issued to all States/UTs. The year-wise data of the complaints is not being maintained by the Ministry. The cumulative pendency of the complaints is monitored at the Ministry level. The State and UT-wise details of complaints is at Annexure-II.

(e): Research has shown that consistent and strong implementation MGNREGA has reduced distress migration. Results show that number of days provided work is inversely correlated with migration by members of the household.

(f): The reduction in distress migration by the whole household has concurrently meant, increase in rural employment through MGNREGA. Research also says that, but for the implementation of MGNREGA, the crisis of joblessness in rural markets would have been acute.


*****