(a) whether the Government has recently reviewed the implementation of
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in the
remote/hilly areas of the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has recently taken initiatives to provide special
incentives under the MGNREGS in these areas;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the funds allocated during the current Five Year Plan for the purpose?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI PRADEEP JAIN `ADITYA`)
(a) & (b): The Ministry regularly reviews the performance of Mahatma Gandhi National
Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). The following mechanism has been put
in place to monitor its performance across the country. Independent Monitoring and
verification by National Level Monitors (NLMs) and Area Officers is carried out in cases
of specific complaints. Central teams headed by senior officers of the Ministry are also
deputed to look into serious issues. Visits are also undertaken by members of Central
Employment Guarantee Council to review performance. Performance of all schemes of
the Ministry including MGNREGA is reviewed in the meetings of the Performance
Review Committee (PRC) held on quarterly basis. The last PRC was held on 6.6.2011.
(c) to (e): MGNREGA is demand based and is applicable in all notified rural areas
including remote and hilly areas of the country. As per Section 3 (1) of the MGNREG
Act, it is for the concerned State Government to provide to every household, whose adult
members volunteer to do unskilled manual work not less than one hundred days of such
work in a financial year in accordance with the Scheme made under the Act. As per
Section 4 of the Act, every State Government shall notify a Scheme for giving effect to
the provisions of section 3 of the Act. All State Governments are required to provide
employment and make wage payment to the beneficiaries in accordance with the
provisions of the Act. During the current five year plan, an outlay (Revised Estimate) of
Rs.1, 21,861.19 crore was allocated for MGNREGA up to 31.3.2011. During 2011-12
outlay of Rs.40000 crore has been provided for MGNREGA.