Press Information Bureau

Government of India

Ministry of Finance

15-March-2012 12:44 IST

Mgnrega:Coverage Increases to 5.49 Crore Households During 2010-11

Government Sets up Committee for Developing Index for Fixing Mgnrega Wage Rates

13 Crore Aadhar Numbers Generated

The coverage under the MGNREGA has consistently increased from 4.51 crore households during 2008-09 to 5.49 crore households during 2010-11 with averaged employment of 47 persondays per household. Average wage has consistently increased from Rs 65 in 2006-07 to Rs. 100 in 2010-11. Women person days have been 48 percent during the last three years against the stipulation of 1/3 as per the Act. This is stated in Economic Survey 2011-12, presented by the Finance Minister, Sh. Pranab Mukherjee in the Lok Sabha today.

The Survey states that to strengthen transparency and accountability in the implementation of the MGNREGA, the Government has initiated a service delivery project for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and biometrics related works of the MGNREGA on PPP basis. In pursuance of the announcement in Budget 2009-10 to provide a real wage of Rs 100 per day as an entitlement under the MGNREGA, the Government has set up a committee for developing an index for fixing MGNREGA wage rates and their periodic revision. Its report is awaited. Till such time a satisfactory index is proposed by the committee and accepted by the Government, a decision has been taken to index wage rates notified under MGNREGA to the Consumer Price Index for agricultural labour. Accordingly, the revised wage rates of MGNREGA 2005 were notified on 14th January, 2011.

The Survey points out that for the Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana, which has been reshaped as National Rural Livelihood Mission, about 42.05 lakh SHGs have been formed since its inception. Under SwarnaJayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana, a total of 3.64 lakh beneficiaries have been assisted during 2011-12. Under PMGSY, over 19,443 km of all-weather roads have been completed during 2011-12 (up to December). Under Indira AwasYojana, unit cost norms have been revised w.e.f. 1st April 2010 from Rs. 35,000 to Rs. 45,000 for plain areas and from Rs. 38,500 to Rs. 48,500 for hilly/difficult areas. During 2010-11, 27.15 lakh houses were constructed against the target of 29.09 lakh. About 72 percent of rural habitations are fully covered with safe drinking water. About 13 crore Aadhaar numbers have already been generated.

DSM/RM/MV

MGNREGA wage indexation to Consumer Price Index for agricultural labour adopted pending committee recommendation, with ICT and biometric reforms. MGNREGA coverage rose to 5.49 crore households in 2010-11 with 47 person-days average and women providing 48% of person-days. The Government launched an ICT and biometrics PPP for transparency and set up a committee to develop a wage-index for periodic revision; meanwhile, wage rates have been provisionally indexed to the Consumer Price Index for Agricultural Labour and revised rates were notified on 14 January 2011.