Govt changes rule in MGREGA; 50% of its work to focus on water conservation
Updated: Sep 03, 2014 01:03:36pm
New Delhi, Sept 3 (KNN) Government has ordered that 50 per cent of all works under the rural employment guarantee scheme, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA) should be for water conservation works to mitigate situations of drought and water scarcity.
The decision has been taken in response to widespread criticism by Members of Parliament and people’s representatives at the local level that Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, MGNREGA has become a source of corruption and that no productive assets are being created through the rural job scheme, Ministry of Rural Development said in a release.
To mitigate drought and drought-like situation in the country, Rural Development Minister Nitin Gadkari has said that 50 per cent of all works under the rural employment guarantee scheme, MGNREGA would be related to water conservation, the release added.
Besides, he has announced increasing the material component under scheme from 40 per cent to up to 49 per cent to enable states take up bigger works.
Increase in the skilled percentage from 40 per cent to 49 per cent is enabling provision which empowers states , if they so wish to do part of work of check dams, minor irrigation tanks with machinery, while doing balance 51 per cent on muster payment to labour.
The Minister added that if states wish to retain the skilled proportion to 40 per cent, they are free to do so.
This change was widely welcomed by MPs and expert water shed NGO Activists like Rajendra Singh and Popat Rao Pawar.
They said that this change will enable MGNREGA to put in place Ridge to Valley visible water harvesting structures and help to mitigate drought and water scarcity.
The Minister has also directed the Rural Development Ministry that all payments and fund transfer to states should be made on E-payment platform and on a just in time basis so that wage payment are not delayed beyond one week in any case. (KNN/SD)
The decision has been taken in response to widespread criticism by Members of Parliament and people’s representatives at the local level that Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, MGNREGA has become a source of corruption and that no productive assets are being created through the rural job scheme, Ministry of Rural Development said in a release.
To mitigate drought and drought-like situation in the country, Rural Development Minister Nitin Gadkari has said that 50 per cent of all works under the rural employment guarantee scheme, MGNREGA would be related to water conservation, the release added.
Besides, he has announced increasing the material component under scheme from 40 per cent to up to 49 per cent to enable states take up bigger works.
Increase in the skilled percentage from 40 per cent to 49 per cent is enabling provision which empowers states , if they so wish to do part of work of check dams, minor irrigation tanks with machinery, while doing balance 51 per cent on muster payment to labour.
The Minister added that if states wish to retain the skilled proportion to 40 per cent, they are free to do so.
This change was widely welcomed by MPs and expert water shed NGO Activists like Rajendra Singh and Popat Rao Pawar.
They said that this change will enable MGNREGA to put in place Ridge to Valley visible water harvesting structures and help to mitigate drought and water scarcity.
The Minister has also directed the Rural Development Ministry that all payments and fund transfer to states should be made on E-payment platform and on a just in time basis so that wage payment are not delayed beyond one week in any case. (KNN/SD)
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