New Delhi, Oct 30: The Centre on Saturday said it is committed to release funds for wage and material payments for proper implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA scheme, and that a fund of Rs.8921 crore is available to meet the wage liability at present.
In an official statement on Saturday, the Rural Development Ministry said there has been an 18 per cent increase in funds allocation for the MGNREGA.
It said 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 have turned up for work as per their will.
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (Mahatma Gandhi NREGA) provides the guarantee of at least 100 days of wage employment against the demand made by a household in a rural area.
During the current financial year, so far more than 222 crore person-days have been generated. A total of more than six crore households have got wage employment during the current financial year against their demand.
“Fund released towards wage and material is a continuous process. There has been increasing of more than 18 per cent of funds allocation for the current financial year in comparison to the previous financial year as a budget estimate,” the statement said.
“During the current financial year, more than Rs 63,793 crore funds have been released for the implementation of the scheme in the States/UTs. Currently, Rs.8921 crore funds are available which can meet the wage liability equal to this current availability,” it added.
“Government of India is committed to release funds for wage and material payments for proper implementation of the scheme, as per the provisions of the act and guidelines applicable for Central Government as well as State Governments. 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 Rs.50,000 crore additional funds for the scheme over and above that of Budget Estimate,” it further said.
Under the scheme, provision for unemployment allowances is applicable for the beneficiary who have demanded work and could not be offered the work within 15 days from the date of demand for work.
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. Its further streamlining is being undertaken, the ministry said. UNI
Committed to release of MGNREGA funds: Centre
