Question : EMPLOYMENT UNDER MGNREGS

(a) whether the total average work days per person in a year under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme has declined in 2010-11 as against 2009-10;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) the total average work days per person in a year in each State and Union Territory including Uttar Pradesh during each of the last three years and the current year;

(d) whether the participation of SCs, STs and women in the Scheme has declined; and

(e) if so, the reasons therefor and the steps taken by the Government to increase the work days and participation of the above-said sections in the Scheme?

MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI JAIRAM RAMESH)

(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

Statement as referred to in reply to Lok Sabha starred Question No. 245 for answer on 18.08.2011

(a) & (b): During 2010-11 employment under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) was provided to a total of 5.49 crore households and 257.15 crore persondays generated. This is against 5.26 crore households provided employment and 283.59 crore persondays generated in 2009-10. Though the total number of households provided employment increased in 2010-11 compared to 2009-10, there was a decline in average persondays per household generated in 2010-11.

MGNREGS provides a legal guarantee for at least 100 days of wage employment to every rural household in a financial year for doing unskilled manual work, on demand to be made following a due process. As employment is provided on demand, households provided employment and persondays generated depend on demand for employment. The major reasons cited for the decline by some of the State Governments are good monsoon/rain fall, higher wage rate in open market, other employment opportunities available, greater transparency and accountability, local disturbances and agitations etc.

(c): The State/Union Territory wise details of average persondays per household generated under the scheme during the last three years and current year are given in annexure.

(d) & (e): The participation by SCs, STs and women under MGNREGA was 30%, 21% and 48% respectively out of total persondays generated in 2009-10. Their participation was 31%, 21% and 48% respectively out of total persondays generated in 2010-11 and showed no decline.