Question : MGNREGS in Andhra Pradesh

(a) whether the Government is aware that Andhra Pradesh experienced a devastating natural calamity recently which destroyed the life and livelihood of many residents;

(b) whether the Government is aware that Andhra Pradesh is one of the top performing Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) States in the country and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has received any requests during the last six months to increase the number of workdays to 100 in Andhra Pradesh; and

(d) whether the Government is considering doing the same for Andhra Pradesh, if so, the time by which the notification will come and if not, the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(SADHVI NIRANJAN JYOTI)

(a) As per the information shared by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the primary responsibility for disaster management rests with the concerned State Governments. The State Governments undertake relief measures in the wake of natural disasters from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), already placed at their disposal, in accordance with the Government of India’s approved items and norms. Additional financial assistance is provided from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), as per laid down procedure in case of disaster of ‘severe nature’, which includes an assessment based on the visit of an Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT).

State Government of Andhra Pradesh vide communication dated 22.11.2021 had informed about the damages caused by heavy rains to crops, roads, transmission lines etc. to the tune of Rs. 6054.29 crore and requested for the immediate release of Rs. 1000 crore for restoration and relief operations.

The Central Government had constituted an IMCT on 23rd November, 2021, for on the spot assessment of damages. IMCT visited the State on 26-29 November, 2021. Further, in the Memorandum submitted on 9th December, 2021, the State Government has sought an assistance of Rs. 1026.74 crore for temporary relief/ restoration. Based on the report of IMCT and recommendations of Sub-Committee of the National Executive Committee (SC-NEC), the High Level Committee (HLC) has approved an amount of Rs. 351.43 crore to the State Government of Andhra Pradesh, which has since been released to the State Government.

Besides, during the current financial year 2021-22, the State Government has been allocated Rs 1192.80 crore under SDRF, which includes Rs 895.20 crore as Central share and Rs 297.60 crore as State share. The Central share of Rs. 895.20 crore has been released, in advance, to Government of Andhra Pradesh in two installments of Rs. 447.60 crore each.

(b) The person-days generated under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (Mahatma Gandhi NREGS) in the State of Andhra Pradesh during the financial year 2020-21 was 25.93 crore. It is at 6th position in terms of person-days generated under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS.

(c) & (d) Mahatma Gandhi NREG Act is to provide at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year to each household in rural areas of the country whose adult members volunteers to do unskilled manual work. In addition to this, there is a provision for upto additional 50 days of unskilled wage employment in a financial year in drought/natural calamity notified rural areas. As per Section 3 (4) of the Mahatma Gandhi NREG Act, 2005, the State Governments may make provision for providing additional days beyond the period guaranteed under the Act from their own funds. Central government has informed the State as per the provisions of the Act.


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