NDA performing better than UPA on MGNREGA, claims government

With aim at recovering its lost rural vote-bank, the NDA-government highlighted its achievements in the MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act), which was UPA’s pet project during its regime. 

Union Rural Development Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh told Millennium Post: “We have already released 93 per cent from the total allocation of the budget under MGNREGA this year to the Union Territories and states. There has been no delay of payment to any state or UT.”

The ministry has introduced e-FMS (Electronic Fund Management System), under which wages which are credited into the accounts of the workers’ are sent to the banks as an e-Payment file called Fund Transfer Order (FTO). Banks are being monitored and requested to make this payment within 2 days after generation of FTOs.

Also more than 94% Gram Panchayats have implemented e-FMS, said an official from the ministry. The MGNREGA official said, “To further improve the monitoring of the e-Payment and bring in transparency, the Ministry has started making the e-payments through Public Financial Management System (PFMS). In the Month of Dec, 2015 the pendency has come down to around 3-4% in respect to FTO processing.”

To achieve “improved participation of workers in the planning process of works and employment under MGNREGA,” there has been a special focus on the most vulnerable groups under Mission Antyodaya. “This process is expected to be facilitated by about 1.5 lakhs grassroot workers (Block Planning Team Members) who are trained in skills related to participatory planning and demand estimation. This is being undertaken in 2569 backward blocks spread across the country.  In 2015-16 the Ministry has zeroed-in on more than 15 lakh youth who have identified skill development options for more secure and remunerative livelihoods. Training of such youth has already started.” said the official.

The ministry also said that ‘asset creation’ under MGNREGA has enhanced rural livelihoods.