Average 49 days of employment generated in 2015-16 under MGNREGA: Government

NEW DELHI: Under the MGNREGA, an average 49 workdays of employment was generated in 2015-16, as against 100 days guaranteed in the rural employment Act, Parliament was informed today.

According to a written reply given by Minister of State for Rural Development Ram Kripal Yadav in the Lok Sabha, Manipur reported only 16 workdays of employment, the lowest among all states, followed by Puducherry with 17 days, Goa 18 days and Lakshadweep 22 days.

The overall average was 49 workdays in 2015-16, he said in the reply.

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) is a demand-driven wage employment programme. Not less than 100 days of employment are provided to registered workers upon receipt of their demand.

MGNREGA provides a supplementary means of livelihood for the rural people, primarily during the lean period and is not a substitute for all other employment opportunities.

The government is actively engaged with state governments in establishing systems that ensure provision of work as per demand, transparency and accountability, Yadav said.

The minister added that states have also been requested to organise 'Rozgar Diwas' periodically to capture latent demand under the programme and to disseminate about provisions of the Act.