(a) whether the Government has conducted any study pertaining to migration of rural population from different States to other places and also to assess the impact of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) on their life;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) whether the Government has taken/proposes to take any steps to address these issues?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI RAM KRIPAL YADAV)
(a) & (b): A study report titled “MGNREGA: A Catalyst for Rural Transformation” by National Council of Applied Economic Research (sponsored by Indian Human Development Survey) estimates the poverty reduction due to Mahatma Gandhi NREGA. The report states that:
• MGNREGA’s contribution to reducing poverty is about 32%. In the absence of MGNREGA-induced consumption, poverty among the participants would have been 38.0% in 2011–12, not 31.3%.
• MGNREGA prevented 14 million persons from falling into poverty (those non-poor in 2004–05 who would have become poor by 2011–12 without MGNREGA employment).
• In spite of a high initial poverty rate (75.8% in 2004–05), poverty among adivasis was reduced by 27.6% and for dalits by 37.6%.
• MGNREGA is more effective in poverty reduction in less developed areas (34%) than in more developed areas (27%)
• Low-participating areas experienced much greater poverty reduction (72%) than areas with a high participation rate (27%).
Other studies conducted by independent research institutions on the implementation of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) reveal that:-
(i) It has enhanced bargaining powers of rural wage seekers and reduced distress migration from rural areas.
(ii) MGNREGA appears to be largely successful in its targeting. MGNREGA due to its self-selecting demand driven design is able to engage with the most vulnerable and marginalized.
(iii) Beneficiaries find the works useful; works increased the land productivity, helped multi-cropping, helped to manage risks and reduced vulnerability.
Further, various studies conducted by several organizations on Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) concluded positive impact on the socio-economic indices due to construction of rural roads.
(c): The Government is actively engaged with State Governments/UTs in establishing systems that ensure provision of work as per demand, transparency and accountability. To generate awareness about the provisions of the Scheme and to provide adequate employment opportunities to rural households under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), all States/UTs have been requested for the following:
(i) to initiate appropriate Information Education and Communication (IEC) campaigns including wall paintings for wide dissemination of the provisions of the Act.
(ii) to prepare plans in a participatory mode and approve them in the Gram Sabha.
(iii) to focus on creation of durable assets with quality.
(iv) to prepare realistic labour budget by the State.
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