MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI PRADEEP JAIN `ADITYA`)
(a) to (f): As per Section 3(1) of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act
(MGNREGA) the State Governments shall provide to every household, work not less than one
hundred days in accordance with the Scheme to be made under the Act. However, Section 3 (4) has
the enabling provision for creating wage employment beyond the stipulated period of 100 days of
work per household in a financial year. Section 3 (4) reads, `The Central Government or the State
Government may, within the limits of its economic capacity and development, make provisions for
securing work to every adult member of a household under a Scheme for any period beyond the
period guaranteed under sub-section (1), as may be expedient`. Thus, additional employment
beyond the stipulated 100 days and up to 150 days per rural household under MGNREGA was
allowed as a special dispensation for the notified drought affected Talukas/Blocks in various States
in 2012-13 and notified flood/landslide affected rural areas in Uttarakhand in 2013-14. No other
State has been awarded any special dispensation due to any other natural calamity under
MGNREGA during 2013-14.
MGNREGA is a demand-driven wage employment programme where funds are released on
the basis of agreed to labour demand between the Centre and the States concerned. Further, funds
are provided to States under Section 22 of MGNREG Act 2005 for meeting the cost of
employment up to 100 days per household in a financial year. As a part of special dispensation and
in view of the likelihood of increased demand for employment on public works due to the
flood/landslide situation in Uttarakhand the Ministry has decided to provide under MGNREGA,
for FY 2013-14, additional financial assistance to Uttarakhand for up to 50 days of employment in
notified flood affected Districts/Blocks/Talukas as per the provisions under Section 22 of the Act.
As a part of this dispensation, an amount of Rs. 330.0 cr. has been released as central share to State
Employment Guarantee Fund, Uttarakhand during 2013-14.
While awarding the special dispensation for Uttarakhand under MGNREGA, the following
norms were relaxed for the Financial Year 2013-14:
# The wage-material ratio of 60:40 may be maintained at district level, if the Statenotifies the
district as a whole as flood affected. Else, this 60:40 ratio would be maintained at block
level in the notified flood affected Talukas/Blocks.
# Removal of debris from roads/private lands may be carried out as a part of a project for land
development and/or rural connectivity or any other permissible activity under MGNREGA.
# In accordance with the provisions contained in Para 12, Schedule I of MGNREGA 2005,
the State may use machinery for removal of debris, if the same cannot be carried out
manually by engaging unskilled workers.
# Funds would be released to SEGF, Uttarakhand during the remaining period of FY 2013-14
without insisting on 60% utilization of Total Available Fund. However, the State would be
required to furnish Utilisation Certificate (Provisional) for the expenditure incurred along
with the proposal for release of funds.
# Fulfillment of a few other conditions viz. (i) 100% MIS data entry (ii) appointment of
Ombudsman (iii) Social Audit and, (iv) complaint resolution will be relaxed for the notified
districts/blocks/talukas, while considering release of central share during the remaining
period of FY 2013-14.
