SUDHIR KUMAR / NEW DELHI
The Union Government today said that it was committed to releasing funds for wage and material payments for proper implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, MGNREGA scheme. MGNREGA provides the guarantee of at least 100 days of wage employment against the demand made by a household in a rural area. Rural Development Ministry said, during the current financial year so far more than 222 crore person-days has been generated. It said, a total of more than six crore households have got wage employment during the current financial year against their demand. It added that employment has been offered to 99.63 per cent of the total demand of wage employment and against the offer of employment, a total of 87.35 per cent of beneficiaries has turned up for work as per their will.
The Ministry said, fund release towards wage and material is a continuous process and there has been increasing of more than 18 per cent of funds allocated for the current financial year in comparison to the previous financial year as a budget estimate. It said, during the current financial year, so far more than 63 thousand 793 crore rupees have been released for the implementation of the scheme in the States and UTs. Currently, eight thousand nine hundred 21 crore rupees funds are available which can meet the wage liability equal to this current availability.
The Ministry said, whenever additional fund is required, the Ministry of Finance is requested to provide the funds. In the previous financial year, the Ministry of Finance allocated 50 thousand crore rupees additional funds for the scheme over and above that of the Budget Estimate.
It said, the provision for unemployment allowances is applicable for the beneficiary who has demanded work and could not be offered the work within 15 days from the date of demand for work. Rural Development Ministry said, all other demands for work where the beneficiary has already completed hundred days in the current financial year or the beneficiary who has demanded the work but died before 15 days of the date of the demand of work shall not be eligible for unemployment allowances.
The category-wise SC, ST and Others wage payment system, as made applicable from this current financial year, has been introduced to accurately reflect on the ground flow of funds to various population groups. Ministry said, its further streamlining is being undertaken.