Question : Wage Rates under MGNREGS

(a) the rate at which wages are being paid to workers under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), State/UT-wise;

(b) whether the Government has released funds to the States timely, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(c) whether huge amount of wages has not been paid to workers of MGNREGS in Kerala;

(d) the steps taken by the Government in this regard; and

(e) whether the Government has formulated any policy for providing better facilities to the labourers under MGNREGS to uplift their living standard and if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI SUDARSHAN BHAGAT)

(a): Under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), wages are paid to the workers in accordance with the Schedule of Rates as fixed by the State Governments. Output of a MGNREGA worker is measured and payment is made accordingly. State/UT-wise details of the notified wage rate w.e.f. 1st April, 2015 is given at Annexure-I.

(b): Funds for programme implementation are released to the States after verifying the performance, utilisation of funds released, and as per the agreed Labour Budgets. The State/UT-wise details of central release under MGNREGA during the last year and the current year are at Annexure-II.

(c): As per the Programme Management Information System (MIS), State/UT-wise details of payment due on account of unskilled wages to MGNREGA workers for 2015-16 (Till 31.07.2015) are given in Annexure-III.

(d): In order to ensure timely payment of wages, the Rules have been issued for timely payment of wages under which, it was suggested that clear accountability shall be fixed on the functionaries for timely performance of specific duties leading to payment of wages. All cases of delayed payment attracts a compensation @ 0.05% per day of delay, which is automatically calculated and paid by the State Government, to be recovered later from the functionary concerned. The Ministry has also initiated Electronic Fund Management System (e-FMS) which directly and electronically credits the respective beneficiary accounts using the core banking system.

(e) Welfare measures under MGNREGA are elaborated in Paragraphs 25 to 28, Schedule II of MGNREGA 2005. The details of such welfare measures for the workers at work places are:

(i) provision of facilities at the worksite viz. safe drinking water, shade for children and periods of rest, first-aid box with adequate emergency material for treatment of minor injuries at the worksite.

(ii) provision of child care services at any worksite if the number of children below the age of five years accompanying the women working is five or more.

(iii) free medical treatment to a person in case of personal injury arising out of and in course of his/ her employment.

(iv) hospitalisation of the injured worker including accommodation, treatment, medicines and payment of daily allowance which should not be less than half of the wage rate.

(v) ex-gratia as per entitlements under Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana or as may be notified by Central Government to a person if he/she while employed under the Scheme meets with death or becomes permanently disabled.

(vi) free medical facility/ ex-gratia to an injured child accompanying a person who is employed under the Scheme.



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