The Maharashtra State Employment Guarantee Scheme, 2006
1Preamble
1.1
As
a part of the 15 Point Programme formulated by the Government of Maharashtra
for the development of the State’s economy, an Employment Guarantee Scheme was
sanctioned under Government Resolution, General Administration Department, No.
FD/EGS/1072/P-1, dated 28 March 1972. The scheme was intended to provide
productive employment to the rural population and thereby solve the problem of
rural poverty. The scheme has since been reviewed and revised several times.
Now it is contained in the Maharashtra Employment Guarantee Act, 1977 and the
rules made the said Act. It is also contained in numerous Government
Resolutions and Circulars issued from time to time to ensure that the policy
and the objectives of the same are fulfilled effectively and faithfully. Over
the years the EGS has not only become a household word but also an important
part of the culture of the State.
1.2
What
is most heartening, the Government of India, taking a cue from the State
legislation on employment guarantee, passed the National Rural Employment
Guarantee Act (NREGA), 2005 on 7 September 2005. The NREGA gives legal
guarantee of a hundred days of wage employment in a financial year to adult
members of a rural household who demand employment and are willing to do
unskilled manual work. The NREGA will be applicable to areas notified by the
Central Government and will cover the whole country within five years. The
objective of the NREGA is to enhance the livelihood security of the people in
rural areas by generating wage employment through works that develop the
infrastructure base of that area. The choice of works suggested addresses
causes of chronic poverty like drought, deforestation, soil erosion.
Effectively implemented, the employment generated under the NREGA has the
potential to transform the geography of poverty.
1.3
Implementation
of the NREGA calls for the formulation of National Rural Employment Guarantee
Schemes by the State Governments. Section 4 of the Act provides that within six
months from the date of the commencement of the Act, every State Government
shall by notification make a scheme for providing not less than hundred days of
guaranteed employment in a financial year to every household in the rural areas
covered under the Scheme and whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled
manual work subject to the conditions of this Act. The Scheme so formulated
would have to provide for the minimum features specified in Schedule I of the
NREGA.
1.4
Section
4 of the NREGA also provides that until such Scheme is notified by the State
Government, the Annual or Perspective Plan of the Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana (SGRY) or the National Food for
Work Programme (NFFWP), whichever is in force in that area shall be deemed to be
the action plan for the scheme for the purposes of the NREGA.
1.5
Section
28 of the NREGA provides that if a State enactment exists to provide employment
guarantee for unskilled manual work to rural household consistent with the
provisions of the NREGA and condition of the employment are not inferior than
Central Act, the State Government can implement the State’s Act.
1.6
As
per section 28 the Central Act has overriding effect. Therefore, the Government
of Maharashtra has decided to amend its EGS Act, 1977 and enlarge the scope to
remove parts that are inconsistent and less favourable and to accommodate the
essential features of the Central Act in the light of section 28 of the NREGA.
1.7
Accordingly, a scheme formulated under Section 4 of the NREGA
and known as the Maharashtra Rural
Employment Guarantee Scheme, 2006 will be fully applicable to all districts
shown in Annexure-A from 26 January 2006 and to all other districts from the
dates that will be notified from time to time. However, it will be substantially applicable to all
remaining districts and ‘C’ Class Municipal areas from 26 January 2006 itself
as mentioned below. The liability of the Central Government will be restricted
to providing employment to rural households for hundred days in a financial
year. The State undertakes all other liability.
2. Objective. The object of the scheme is to provide for the enhancement of
livelihood security of the households in rural areas and ‘C’ class municipal
areas of the Maharashtra by providing guaranteed wage employment thought-out
the year to every adult person who volunteers to do unskilled manual work. The guarantee to provide work is restricted to
unskilled manual work. The fundamental objective of the scheme is that on
completion of the works undertaken, some durable community assets will be
generated and that the wages paid to the workers will be linked with the
quantity of work done.
3. Status. The scheme is to be implemented as a
centrally sponsored scheme on cost sharing basis between the Centre and State
as determined by NREG Act, 2005. The expenditure which is admissible under NREG
Act, 2005 is to be done from Central Government Fund and the balance from State
Government Fund.
4.
Salient features of the Scheme
4.1All adult persons residing in rural and ‘C’
class Municipal council areas are covered under this scheme. However, a person
who is more than 15 years old but less than 18 years can also be given
employment at State cost under this scheme if there is no earning member in the
family. While the cost incurred on the employment guarantee to a rural
household up to 100 days in a financial year will be shared by the Central
Government and the State Government in the ratio of 90:10, all costs to be
incurred in ‘C’ Class Municipal areas and guarantee beyond 100 days will be
borne by the Government of Maharashra.
4.2The guarantee is given at the Block level. A
person demanding the work has no choice of particular work. The guarantee is to
provide work anywhere, though operationally works are normally provided within
the Panchayat Samiti area. As far as possible, work is provided to the
employment seeker within a radius of 5 km of his residence.
4.3The works will be implemented through Panchayat
Raj Institutions, Local Bodies, PSUs, various Government Departments such as
Irrigation, Public Works, Agriculture, Forest and NGO in notified area. They
shall be called Implementing Agencies.
5.Organization set-up
5.1There will be a State Employment Guarantee Council at the
State level to advise the State Government and to monitor and evaluate the
scheme. The Chief Minister will be the President of the MEGC and the members
will be Minister for Rural Development, Water Conservation, Agriculture, and
Forest. Secretaries for MREGS, Rural Development, Water Conservation,
Agriculture, and Forest. Deputy Secretary (EGS) will be the Member Secretary.
Other members will be decided by the State Government.
5.2At the State level Principal Secretary, MREGS will be the
State Programme Coordinator.
5.3At the District level the District Collector will be the
District Programme Coordinator and the Chief Executive Officer will be Joint
District Programme Coordinator.
5.4At the Block level there will be a Block Programme Officer. He will be selected
from among retired Tahsildars, BDOs, DPOs who have worked in rural areas. He
will be responsible to the Sub Divisional Officer (Revenue) and the District
Programme Coordinator.
5.5The
necessary administrative and technical staff on deputation or on contract basis
will be provided to the District Programme Coordinator.
5.6The
necessary administrative and technical staff on deputation or on contract basis
will be provided to the Block Programme Officers. Accounts personnel will be
taken from among retired Class II Accounts service. The staff will be
computer-literate.
5.7The
scheme will be monitored and supervised at Division level by the Divisional
Commissioner who will be assisted by the necessary staff presently made
available under the erstwhile scheme.
5.8The
above mentioned setup will be presently for the districts notified under the
NREGA, 2005.
5.9In
all other districts the present arrangement will continue until further orders.
In other words, in these districts three-tier administrative set-up to ensure
close and effective liaison and continuous supervision over the programme will
continue. The committees for planning, direction, control and co-ordination set
up at the State, District and Panchayat Samiti level will continue. The
Divisional Commissioner will control EGS works in his division. The Collector
will be in overall charge of the scheme at the district level. At Panchayat
Samiti level the Tahsildar will be assigned the functions of the assessment of
demand for employment and deployment of labourers on different works in the
Panchayat Samiti area.
5.10
At
the State level, the Planning Department will be in overall charge of the
programme, covering all aspects of planning, administration, provision of
funds, monitoring and evaluation of the programme.
5.11
For
districts in Annexure-A, the Planning Department will
5.12
For
all other districts, the Planning Department will make a budget provision and
release quarterly credit limits to the Collectors. The Collectors will make
further releases to the Implementing Agencies at the district level, which in
turn will release funds to their subordinates for payment of expenses incurred
on implementation of the works. An account of expenditure will be maintained by
the implementing agencies at the primary and district units in accordance with
the normal procedure laid down by the Government.
5.13
Weekly
and monthly progress reports prescribed for the EGS will be sent by the
implementing agencies to the Collectors for onward transmission to the Planning
Department. The information in regard to the number of works in progress,
labour potential, labour attendance at the end of the week, etc is obtained in
the weekly report. The category number of works sanctioned, completed and in
progress, employment potential of these works, actual mandays generated at the
end of month, the total wage component of expenditure incurred during the
month, etc are obtained in the monthly progress report.
6. Legislative Committee
6.1The State Legislature has constituted a special Legislature
Committee to examine, assess and evaluate the working of the State’s EGS, with
special reference to benefits accrued to and the impact made on the people
employed under the scheme, and to find out the deficiencies and shortcomings if
any and to suggest measures to remove them and to improve the said scheme. At
the District and Panchayat Samiti levels, District and Panchayat Employment
Guarantee Committees, respectively, are appointed. In such committees, persons
belonging to the backward classes, labourers and the representatives of registered
unions of the agriculture labour are appointed. Adequate representation to
women is also provided on these District and Panchayat Committees. This
committee will continue to function for the MREGS.
7Registration and Verification
7.1Eligibility. MREGS
will be open to all rural adult members of the household who register for work.
They will need to be local residents, that is, residing within the Gram
Panchayat, and willing to do unskilled manual work. Household will mean a
nuclear family comprising mother, father and their children.
7.2Application for
Registration. The application for registration in Form No.1 may be given on
a plain paper to the local Gram Panchayat which will contain the names of those
adult members of the family willing to do unskilled manual work, giving such
particulars as age, sex, SC/ST. Any person may appear personally and make an
oral request for registration. Even a person who is below 18 years but has
attained 15 years may apply for registration if there is no able-bodied adult
person in his family. All applications shall be verified by the Gram Panchayat
and registered after due verification. To allow maximum opportunities to
families that may migrate, registration will be open all through the year at
the Gram Panchayat office during working hours.
7.3Verification.
Verification of applications will be regarding local residence in the Gram
Panchayat concerned and household as an entity, 1and the fact that applicants
are adult members of the household. For this purpose voter list and BPL census
will be used. The process of verification will be completed as early as
possible, but not later than a fortnight after the receipt of the application
in the Gram Panchayat. After verification, the Gram Panchayat will enter all
particulars in the Registration Register in the Gram Panchayat.
7.4A Gram Sabha shall be convened for the purpose of mobilizing
application, registration and verification. Door-to-door survey will be
undertaken to identify the persons willing to register for employment. The
survey will be undertaken by the frontline team headed by the Sarpanch of Gram
Panchayat, SC/ST and women members, Gram Sevak, and Talathi, The team members
be given orientation at the Block level.
7.5Every registered household will be assigned a registration
number. The registration number will be assigned in accordance with a coding
system as prescribed by the Central and State Government for BPL census 2002.
Copies of registration will be sent to the Block Programme Officer or the
Tahsildar, as the case may be, so that he has a consolidated record of demand
that is likely to come to enable him to organize resources accordingly.
7.6If it is found that a false registration
has been done it will be struck off
8.Job Card
8.1A Job Card will be issued by the Gram Panchayat to each
household that has been registered. The Job Card will be issued immediately
after the verification is completed and will be handed over to the applicant
not later than a week after registration.
Photographs of adult members who are willing to do unskilled manual work
will be attached to the Job Card as early as possible after the Cards are
issued. The cost of photographs to be borne as the programme cost. A copy of
the Job Card will be maintained at the Gram Panchayat.
8.2The Job Card will be valid for a period of 5 years. Deletions,
if any, in any household on account of demise, or permanent change of place of
a member will be reported immediately by the household concerned. Additions
desired may be applied for by the household. The Gram Panchayat will undertake
an annual updation exercise in the same manner as registration, the time for
which will be fixed Gram Panchayat keeping in mind the work and migration
season of the local work force. All additions and deletions made in the
Registration Register will be read out in the Gram Sabha. The Gram Panchayat
will send a list of additions / deletions to the Block Programme Officer every
year in the month of October so that it will be incorporated in the Labour
Budget the District Collector has to make by December.
8.3Individual identity card will be given to each registered
applicant of the family. A card holder may apply for a duplicate card if the
original card is lost or damaged. The application will be given to the Gram
Panchayat and processed in the manner of new application with the difference
that the particulars can also be verified from duplicate copy of the job card
in the Gram Panchayat.
8.4If a person has a grievance against the non-issuance of job
card, he may bring it to the notice of the Block Programme Officer. If the
grievance is against the Block Programme Officer, he may bring it to the notice
of the District Programme Co-coordinator. All such complaints will be disposed
of within 15 days.
9.Application for work
9.1In the notified districts the procedure will be as under:
(1) The employment seeker will have to get his name
registered under this scheme with the local Gram Panchayat by filling the
prescribed Form, or in person. The Gram Panchayat will have to provide work
within 15 days after the receipt of application for work. The employment seeker
will have to declare that he will be available for work for a continuous period
of at least 14 days. The guarantee is to provide work anywhere in the Block.
But as far as possible, work will be provided within a radius of 5 km of his
residence. In case the employment is provided outside such radius the labourer
shall be paid ten per cent of wage rate as extra wage to meet additional
transportation and living expenses. If it is not possible for the Gram
Panchayat to provide work within that distance, it will inform the Block
Programme Officer, who will provide him employment within the Block before the
limit of 15 days is over.
(2) Failure to provide employment will create the
liability on the State Government for payment of unemployment allowance at the
rate of one fourth of wage rate for the first 30 days, and thereafter at the
rate of half of the wage rate. But in no case, the unemployment allowance will
be more than the wage he would have earned in a financial year for the period
of the guarantee.
(3) Ordinarily the application will be in prescribed
Form No.4. A plain paper may also be used instead, giving the registration
number of the job card, the date from which and the number of days for which
employment is required. A single application may be given for number of days in
different periods during the year for which wage employment is required. A
number of applicants may give a joint application also.
9.2 In the districts other than the notified districts, until
further orders the procedure will continue to be as before. That is,
(1) The employment seeker will have to get his name
registered with the Registering Authority of the village, i.e. Talathi /
Gramsevak by filling Form 1 prescribed under rules. Thereafter he will have to
ask for employment from the Samiti Officer (i.e. Tahsildar) or from Registering
Authority in the concerned villages by filling up Form 4.
(2) The Samiti officer has to provide work within 15
days after the receipt of application in Form 4. The employment seeker is
required to declare that he will work for a continuous period of at least 30
days on the work to which the Samiti Officer has directed. The Samiti Officer
will direct the employment seeker to the implementing agency of the work by
giving the employment seeker directive in Form 7.
(3) The implementing agency has to employ the person
on the work, if the person presents himself on work within 7 days of the
receipt of the letter issued by the Samiti Officer. Failure to provide
employment creates the liability on the State Government for payment of
unemployment allowance at the rate decided by State Government.
10. Allocation of Employment
Opportunities
10.1 In all notified districts, the Gram Panchayat will be the
Employment Allocation Authority. Hence, it has the right to allocate employment
in a work to be executed by any other Implementing Agency in its jurisdiction
that has already been approved of in the Annual Plan. The Implementing Agency
will be bound to act upon the directive. A copy of the directive will be sent
to the Block Programme Officer, who will ensure that the directive is complied
with. The Block Programme Officer will also ensure that funds are released in
time.
10.2
In
the districts not yet notified the present system as highlighted in para 9.2
will continue.
11. Demand Mobilization and Assessment
Demand will be mobilized to facilitate assessment
and planning as well as ensuring that the benefits intended are claimed by
those in need of them.
12. Planning
12.1 Planning will be such as to generate employment within 15 days.
It will also ensure that the design and selection of works are such that good
quality assets are developed. There will be long term, medium term, short term
perspective planning.
12.2 Development Plan. Every Gram Panchayat will
prepare after, considering the recommendations of the Gram Sabha a Development
Plan and maintain a shelf of works to be taken up as and when demand arises. It
will forward a prioritized list of projects to the Block Programme Officer for
scrutinizing and preliminary approval prior to the commencement of the year.
The Panchayat Samiti will approve a Block level plan. Zilla Parishad will
approve Block-wise shelf of projects. The Block level plan will be prepared by
the Block Programme Officer after consolidating Gram Panchayat Plan and
proposal of Panchayat Samitis and this consolidated Block Plan will be got
approved from Panchayat Samitis. The District Collector will consolidate the
Block Plans and proposals of other Implementing Agencies and get the
consolidated plan approved from the Zilla Parishad. The District Collector will
present every year a labour budget to the Zilla Parishad for approval.
12.3 District Development Plan.
The District Development Plan will be a Five-year perspective plan that
attempts to estimate the need for employment and the kind of works that can be
taken up to meet the need, based on an analysis of previous years and the
demand that comes up through a participatory process of planning that has the
village / habitation as its basic unit. The Perspective Plan will also have the
benchmarking and key indicators of success. The Perspective Plan made under the
National Food for Work Programme (NFFWP) will be revisited so that it serves
the purposes of the NREGA. The draft plan will be discussed and approved of
with modifications, if need be, by the Gram Sabha, Gram Panchayats, Panchayat
Samitis, and Zilla Parishads. At the village level, effort will be made to
ensure the participation of the work force of the village likely to seek work.
Their demand for work as well as their preference for nature and time of work
will be elicited so that the Development Plan becomes an instrument to give
them employment according to their need. The Development Plan will serve as a
frame work of long term planning, but it will be flexible enough to respond to
the new emerging needs of the area, the experience of implementation and the
new areas of works approved by Central Government.
12.4 Annual Plan. The size
of the Plan and priority of the works will be decided annually, keeping in view
the demand for employment. Every year, the Gram Panchayat shall convene a
meeting of the Gram Sabha to estimate demand for labour and to propose the
number and priority of works to be taken up in the next financial year. The
timing of the meeting will take into consideration the work season and the
migration time, in case the work force in that area tends to migrate for work.
Participation of likely beneficiaries will be ensured in the Gram Sabha so that
their priorities and needs shape the Annual Plan. The time and date of the Gram Sabha meeting will be fixed well in
advance and will be widely publicized so that people can participate in large
numbers. The choice of works will be based on the works identified in the
Perspective Plan. The Gram Sabha may recommend additional works if the works
identified in the Perspective Plan are insufficient or cannot be taken up for
some reason or a new activity has been permitted by the Central Government. The
Plan formulated in the Gram Sabha will be forwarded to the Gram Panchayat.
Based on the recommendations of Gram Sabha and the Gram Panchayat will forward
its proposals to the Block Programme Officer. The Gram Panchayat will prepare
an Annual Plan and forward to the Block Programme Officer. The Annual Plan will
clearly indicate the existing demand for work, the demand in previous year, the
works taken up in the previous year, works on on-going and works proposed for
next year, likely cost, and proposed implementing agencies. The Gram Panchayat
will also identify 50 per cent of the works that it may wish to take up. The
Block Programme Officer will scrutinize the Annual Plan for its technical
feasibility and satisfy himself that it meets the likely demand for employment
based on the registrations and previous experience. If the Block Programme
Officer feels that the list is insufficient to meet the likely demand, he will
ask for a supplementary list. The Block Programme Officer will not reject the
proposal received from the Gram Panchayat. If the proposal is not within the
parameters of the scheme or appears technically infeasible, he will record his
observations on the proposal and then submit the consolidated statement of
proposals to the intermediate pachayat. The Panchayat Samiti will not reject
the work proposed by the Gram Panchayat if it is within the parameters of the
Act. If it is outside the parameters of the Act, then it will be returned to
the Gram Panchayat for it to replace it with a valid proposal. Panchayat Samiti
will maintain the priority indicated by the Gram Panchayat. It is possible
there may be need for work that involves more than one Gram Panchayat. Such
works may be included by the Panchayat Samiti. In identifying such works the
suggestions of elected public representatives of the area, NGOs which have been
working in that area for rural development and of line departments may be
considered by the Panchayat Samiti. The District Collector will scrutinize the
Plan proposal of all the Panchayat Samitis, examining the appropriateness and
adequacy of work, in terms of likely demand as well as their technical and
financial feasibility. While inviting and examining work proposals the Gram
Panchayats will be given priority. He will consolidate all the proposals in a
District Plan Proposal to be discussed and approved by .Zilla Parishad. The
time frame for each project will be specified in the Annual Plan. The Zilla
Parishad will examine and approve the District Plan. The District Collector
will coordinate the preparation of detailed technical estimates and sanctions.
The estimates will be prepared by the executing agency if they have requisite
expertise or from any other technical authority specified by State Government.
The estimate will be detailed. The District Collector will communicate the
sanctioned Plan to the Block Programme Officer, who will then forward a copy of
the Block Plan with the shelf of projects to be executed in each Gram Panchayat
as well as the projects that may be inter Gram Panchayats with all details to
every Gram Panchayat. The proposal will be completed by December of the
preceding year. If the work is being executed by any other agency, the Gram
Panchayat concerned shall be informed of the work along with the details.
12.5 The procedure of planning will be applicable to all notified
districts. In all other districts the present procedure will be continue until
further orders, that is, works having sufficient labour potential will be
started according to the employment need. Care will be taken to see that
availability of labour for normal agricultural operations in the district is
not adversely affected and the scheme is not activated when work is available
on other plan on non-plan works in progress. The District Collector will
prepare an Annual Plan for EGS works in his district for the period from 1
October to 30 September of the next year. In addition to the on-going works, a
shelf of approved works will be kept ready so that employment that can be
provided (measured in terms of mandays) is 150 per cent of the expected
employment need during the ensuing year.
13. Publicity. Sanctioned works will be given wide
publicity.
14. Works
14.1 The following works will be permissible
under the scheme in their order of priority.
(1) Water conservation & water harvesting;
(2) Drought proofing (including afforestation and
tree plantation;
(3) Irrigation canal including micro & minor
irrigation works;
(4) Provision of irrigation facility to land owned
by household belonging to the SC & ST or to land beneficiaries of land
reforms or that of the beneficiaries under the Indira Awaas Yojana of
Government of India;
(5) Renovation of traditional water bodies including
desilting of tanks;
(6) Land development;
(7) Flood control and protection works including
drainage in water logged areas;
(8) Rural connectivity to provide all-weather
access;
(9) Any other work which may be notified by the
Central Government in consultation with the State Government;
(10) Individual beneficiary schemes (viz, Jawahar
Wells, Horticulture, Sericulture, Social Forestry).
(11) Any other work the State
Government may have taken up under its EGS.
14.2 The work mentioned in para 14.1 (4) will be taken up in the
lands of small and marginal farmers only.
Similarly, the land development works will either be on community lands
or lands of small and marginal farmers with first preference to beneficiaries
of land reforms and beneficiaries of
Indira Awaas Yojana. Care will be taken to ensure that the improvement
benefits flow to the weakest sections first.
14.3 Works shown in para 14.1 (10) and 14.1 (11) will continue as
State funded schemes.
14.4 The ratio of unskilled to skilled for minor irrigation tanks,
percolation tanks, village tanks, maji malgujari tanks, forest ponds, Gabian
bandhara and roads will be 51:49 and for all other works it will be 60:40.
However, the ratio calculated at the district level for all works taken together
shall not be less than 60:40.
15. Execution of works
15.1 The works are implemented through various agencies called the
Implementing Agencies.
15.2 At least 50 per cent of the works in terms of cost in a Gram
Panchayat will be allotted to Gram Panchayat for execution. This is the
statutory minimum and the Block Programme Officer or the District Collector may
allot more, if deemed feasible.
15.3 The other executing agencies can be Panchayat Samiti, Zilla
Parishad, line departments of Government, Public Sector Undertakings of Central
and State Government, Cooperative Societies with majority shareholding of
Central or State Government and reputed NGOs having proven track record of
performance. Self Help Groups formed under SGSY may also be considered for
entrusting works.
15.4 The selection of executing agency will be based on technical
expertise and resources, capacity to handle work within the time-frame,
reputation for work and overall interest of beneficiaries. The selection of
Agency would have to be indicated n the Annual Plan.
15.5 Since the Gram Panchayat is the Employment Allotment Authority,
it may direct an approved implementing agency to start a work approved on its
shelf of projects. The Gram Panchayat will inform the Block Programme Officer
so that if need be the Block Programme Officer may direct the implementing
agency concerned to start the work and ensure that it has the necessary funds
to do so.
15.6 If any executing agency including a Gram Panchayat is unable to
execute the works allotted within 15 days, for some reasons, it will
immediately inform the Block Programme Officer, who will entrust it to another
agency, from a panel of agencies approved project wise for that Block in the
Annual Plan for the District. If a Gram Panchayat does not execute a work
within 15 days, the Block Programme Officer will direct the applicants to a
work under execution by another implementing agency. Time for various
activities must be fixed according to the migrant workers’ needs.
15.7 In the districts which have not been notified the Zilla
Parishads, and line departments of State Government will continue to be the
Implementing Agencies until further orders.
16 Measurement of work
16.1 The scheduled of rates prescribed for MEGS from time to time
will remain applicable.
16.2 The works will be invariably executed by engaging labourers on
muster rolls, and not through contractors.
16.3 The labourers will be paid, not according to the number of days
they remain present on work but according to the quantity of work done on the
basis of rates for different items so fixed that an average person working
diligently for 7 hours a day, will earn equal to the minimum wage prescribed
for the agricultural labour for the area under the Minimum Wages Act until
separate minimum wages are fixed for this scheme. The wages will be paid within
15 days after closer of muster fortnightly. If the wages are delayed, the
labour shall be entitled to receive payment of compensation as per the
provision of Payment of Wages Act, 1936.
16.4 Administrative Approval
to the works. Block Programme Officer is empowered to sanction works
costing upto Rs 5 lakh each. The District Collector is empowered to give
administrative sanction to the works costing upto Rs 50 lakh. The Divisional
Commissioner will sanction works above Rs 50 lakh and upto Rs 75 lakh. Works
costing above Rs 75 lakh will be approved by the State Government. Technical
approval will be given by the Implementing Agencies as per their Departmental
rules.
16.6 Conditions for starting
work. The requirement of labour for agriculture sector as well as of
planned and non-planned works of the Government or local bodies will be met
first. Thereafter labour potential of existing on-going SGRY, NFFWP, and EGS
works will be fully exhausted. New
works can be started only thereafter. New works can be commenced if only (a) at
least 50 labourers become available for the works; and (b) the workers cannot
be absorbed on the on the on-going scheme works / plan or non-plan works.
However, exception can be made for horticulture and for works in hilly areas.
16.7 Measurement of work will be done within two to three days after
the close of fortnightly muster roll so that the total wages can be paid within
a fortnight.
16.8 Numbered muster rolls will be provided by the Block Programme
Officer to the Gram Panchayat and all Implementing Agencies and their record
will be maintained in the prescribed registers.
16.9 The test check of the measurement recorded by the agencies will
be carried out by the vigilance unit of Collector or Commissioner.
16.10 Contractors are not permitted for implementation of any project.
As far as practicable, a task funded under the scheme shall be performed by
using manual labour and not machine.
16.11 The above mentioned procedure will be applicable to notified
districts only. In the remaining districts, the requirement of labour for
agriculture sector as well as of planned and non-planned works of the
government / local bodies will be met first. Thereafter, labour potential of
existing on-going EGS works will be fully exhausted. New EGS works can be
started thereafter. New works under the scheme can be commenced only if (a) at
least 25 labourers become available for that work, and (b) the workers cannot
be absorbed on the on going EGS / Plan / Non-plan works for schemes. However,
exception can be made for afforestation works and for works in hilly areas.
17 Worksite Facilities
17.1 Worksite facilities are to be ensured by the Implementing
Agency. Medical aid, drinking water, shed, crèche if there are more than five
children below six years, will have to be provided. A person engaged to attend
to children will be deemed to be a worker under this scheme.
17.2 The cost of worksite facilities as indicated in para 17.1 will
be included as part of programme cost and therefore has to be included in the
cost estimate for each project.
17.3 If water is not provided by the Agency Re 1 per day will be
given to the labourer for bringing water.
17.4 In addition to the above facilities, wired goggles for stone
crushing labourers will be provided.
17.5 Sharpening and rent charges of tools and weapons brought by the
labourers will be given Re 1 per day.
17.6 Ex-gratia payment at the rate of Rs 50,000 will be made to the
family of the labourer in case of his death at the time of working. Ex-gratia
payment will be made in case a labourer becomes handicapped. The amount will be
according to the percentage of handicap. In case of 100% disability the
ex-gratia payment will be same as in case of death.
17.7 If children accompanying labourers suffer from an accident or
injury, they will be entitled to same ex-gratia payment as is given to the
labourers.
17.8 Maternity benefit of 15 days leave with wages at the prevailing
rate will be given to a woman labourer she has worked continuously for 75 days
before her delivery. If she had been working for more than 75 days, payment
will be given at the rate of one day’s wage for every five days and this
benefit wll be given for maximum 150 days. If a woman labourer undergoes
Tuboctomy, she will be entitled to 14 days’ leave with wages. A male labourer
will be given leave for 7 days along with wages if he undergoes Vasectomy. If a
woman works continuously for 5 days in the preceding two weeks, she will be
entitled to two days leave with wages for copper-T surgery for the purpose of
family planning.
17.9 The facilities and ex-gratia payment not covered under the
NREGA, 2005 will be paid by the State Government.
18 Payment of wages
18.1 Every person working under the Scheme shall be entitled to
wages, as per minimum wage rate fixed by the State Government for agricultural
labour under Minimum Wages Act, 1948 unless the wages have been notified by the
Central Government under Section 6(1) of the Act.
18.2 Equal wage shall be paid to both men and women workers and the
provisions of Equal Remuneration Act, 1976 shall be complied with.
18.3 The payment of wages will be on fortnightly basis and not later
than 15 days after the muster is closed for the fortnight.
18.4 Where the minimum wage rate fixed is linked to the task
performed, the workers will be entitled to receive wages as per task performed.
The schedule of rates will be so designed that a person working for seven hours
would normally earn a wage equal to the wage rate.
18.5 The programme authorities shall make all efforts to publicize
the wage rate / task-based rates in simple language and by means easily
accessible to the rural population. Wage rates shall also be displayed prominently
at every worksite.
18.6 The Block Programme Officer, the District Collector and the
State Government will keep a watch on the average wages earned under task-based
system, and if necessary, the schedule of rates may be revised to ensure that the
earnings are near to the wage rate. The district wise average wage earned on
task basis and paid to men and women shall also be brought to the notice of the
State EGS Council every year.
18.7 The above mentioned procedure will be applicable to the notified
districts. In other districts, the present procedure will be continued. That
is, the works will continue to be executed departmentally by engaging labourers
on muster rolls. The labourers will however not be paid according to the number
of days they remain present on the work but are paid according to the quantity
of work done on the basis of rates for different items are so fixed that an
average person working diligently for 7 hours a day, will earn wage equal to
the minimum wage prescribed for agriculture labour for the concerned zone,
under the Minimum Wages Act. Exception
is however made in the case of the work of gorge filling of tanks which is
allowed to be done through piece workers so that it gets completed before onset
of monsoon and risk of partly completed work getting washed away by flood is
avoided. Similarly, exception is made for rock blasting work of canals. The
minimum wages will be as per decided by Central / State Government from time to
time.
19 Unemployment Allowance
19.1 If a worker who has applied for work is not provided employment
within 15 days from the date on which work is requested, an unemployment
allowance shall be payable by the State Government at the rate of 25 per cent
of the wage rate for first 30 days later on 50 per cent of the wage rate but
not more than the wages for 100 days.
19.2 The responsibility for payment of unemployment allowance shall
be with the Block Programme Officer and in the notified districts. In other
districts, the Tahasildar will be responsible for pament of unemployment
allowance.
19.3 The Block Programme Officer will report to the District
Collector about any incidence of unemployment allowance. The employment seeker
will have to report daily to the Gram Panchayat where an unemployment allowance
muster will be kept. The Gram Panchayat will mark daily until employment is
provided. The unemployment register will be kept fortnightly. The corresponding
entries will be made in Job Card also. As an Implementing Agency on each
fortnight the Gram Panchayat will demand fund from the District Collector
through the Block Programme Officer.
20 Funding
20.1 Financing Pattern. The Central Government will bear the costs
on the following items:
20.2 The State Government will bear the costs on
the following items
21 Employment Guarantee Funds
21.1 The Central Government shall establish a fund to be called the
National Employment Guarantee Fund to be managed according to the rules made
for this purpose. The Central Government will release all grants to the State
Government / notified districts for implementation of this Scheme.
21.2 The State Government shall establish a fund to be called the
Maharashtra Employment Guarantee Fund to be managed according to the rules made
for this purpose. The State Government will release all grants to the notified
districts for implementation of this Scheme.
21.3 Separate Bank Accounts shall be opened for funds under the
scheme at the District and Block levels. The Accounts shall be opened in
nationalized banks. The District Collector will be a joint holder of the
Account.
22 Allocation and release of funds
22.1 Allocation. The
Scheme is demand driven and allocation of resources to the notified districts
will depend on actual requirement based on utilization. The State will
formulate and submit a District Annual Work Plan and Budget Proposals (AWPB) to
the Central Government.
22.2 Release of funds. The
Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, will release funds to a
Revolving Fund at the District Level to be operated as a joint account of
Deputy Collector (EGS) and the District Collector.
23 Funding Procedure
23.1 Maharashtra Employment Guarantee Fund will be administered by
the Secretary (MREGS). On the basis of the probable expenditure in the next
quarter in each Block the District Collector will convey demand to the State Government.
A cheque or draft will be given to the District Collector, who in turn will
issue cheque to the Implementing Agencies.
23.2 At the district level a Joint Account of District Collector and
Deputy Collector (MREGS) will be opened in a Nationalized Bank. The Block
Programme Officer will assess fund requirement of each Implementing Agency for
the muster closing in each fortnight and intimate to the District Collector the
requirement for wages agency-wise for each fortnight within two days from the closing
of muster. The District Collector will issue the cheques directly to the agency
and the agency will encash it from the sub-treasury. The cheque signing
authority will be the Deputy Collector (MREGS).
23.3 The initial installment as seed money for the Revolving Fund
will released to the Districts, as may be decided by the Central Government,
Ministry of Rural Development.
23.4 Gram Panchayats will be authorized to spend the money released
to them on the works which have been sanctioned to be executed by them. After
60 per cent of the allocation given to any Gram Panchayat has been spent, the
Gram Panchayat will apply to the Block Programme Officer for release of
additional funds. The proposal of the Gram Panchayat will be accompanied by a
statement of work-wise expenditure together with the report of the vigilance
and monitoring committee duly approved by the Gram Sabha. The Block Programme
Officer after satisfying himself about the proper utilization will release
within two weeks the next installment equal to the amount utilized by the Gram
Panchayat. The Gram Panchayat will be responsible to carry out any
rectification in the proposal as directed by the Block Programme Officer.
23.5 The Block Programme Officer will send necessary proposal to the
District Collector. Out of the funds placed at his disposal the District
Collector will replenish the funds of the Gram Panchayat and also give funds to
the other executing agencies for the works sanctioned to them for execution.
23.6 After utilizing 60 per cent of the funds earlier released the
District Collector may apply for the next installment to the Ministry of Rural
Development out of National Employment Guarantee Fund with the recommendation
of the State Government. The proposal will be submitted in the prescribed
proforma and the release will be subject to fulfillment of following
conditions:
(a) Submission of Utilization Certificate showing
that at least 50 per cent of funds / resources already released have been
utilized at the time of submission of
the proposal for next installment.
(b) Submission of Certificate regarding release and
receipts of State Share against the Central Released made so far accompanied by
the copy of the sanction order of the State share and certified copy of the
Bank Statement indicating credit of the State Share duly authenticated by the
Branch Manager and the Account Officer in charge of the NREGSAccount at the
District level.
(c) Submission of non-diversion and non-embezzlement
certificate.
(d) All pending progress / monitoring reports will
have been sent.
(e) Submission of a statement about the number of
inspections conducted by officers at Block, Sub-Divisional, District,
Divisional and State-level.
(f)Any other condition imposed from time to time
will also have to be complied with.
23.7 The release of Central share of funds during the next financial
year will depend on submission of audit report and utilization certificate of
the previous year to the satisfaction of the Ministry of Rural Development.
23.8 The Central Government will release funds equal to the
expenditure incurred and admissible under the scheme. Based on the actual
utilization pattern, the Central Government may release a higher installment of
funds to the district if it is felt that the level of initial Installment fixed
is not adequate to meet half-yearly requirements of the district. On the
contrary, if the pace of utilization is slow, the Central Government may
release a lesser amount.
23.9 State share of funds of the funds will be released by the State
Government within 15 days of the release of central funds.
23.10 The above mentioned procedure will be applicable to the notified
districts. In other districts credit limits will be given to the District
Collector, who in turn will release credit limits to the Implementing Agencies.
24 Monitoring, Evaluation and
Research
24.1 Gram Sabha will monitor all works at the village level and the
employment provided to each household who is registered and requested for work.
It will also monitor registration and issue of Job Cards and timely payment of
wages.
24.2 Gram Panchayat will monitor the works implemented by the other
implementing agencies and the muster rolls maintained by them at work sites and
the payments made.
24.3 Panchayat Samiti and the Block Programme Officer will monitor
registration, employment provided to each household, unemployment allowance
paid social audit, flow of funds, timely and correct payment of wages, and
quality of works.
24.4 Block Programme Officer shall be responsible to send all reports
and returns to the District Collector who in turn shall send reports to the
state and the Central Government.
24.5 The District Collector will monitor all aspects of
implementation including registration, employment, unemployment allowance,
social audit, funds flow, progress and quality of works and qualitative aspects
of implementation timely and correct payment of wages and timely payment of
unemployment allowance.
24.6 State Government and Divisional Commissioner shall monitor the
performance of all districts on the quality and pace of implementation as laid
down in the National Monitoring System and the guidelines of the State
Employment Guarantee Council.
24.7 The State Government will send consolidated reports and returns
to the Government of India.
24.8 Verification and Quality Audit by external monitors will be
taken up at the district, state and Central levels.
24.9 The performance of States and Districts shall be monitored
through a Comprehensive monitoring system which may be in addition to the Reports and returns specified in these
guidelines. The Ministry of Rural Development will monitor the programme on the
basis of monitoring system evolved by the Central
Employment Guarantee Council. The Central Government will also monitor the
programme through Block Programme Officers, Area Officers, district level
monitors and national level monitors. A National on-line Monitoring system for
key performance indicators will be evolved and all programmed implementation authorities from Block Programme
Officer to district and State-level shall report regularly on this system.
24.10 Periodic Evaluation and Research Studies on the implementation of
the Programme will be conducted from time to time. National Employment
Guarantee Council and State Employment Guarantee Councils may conduct
evaluation studies from time to time. Evaluation studies may be entrusted to
the reputed institutions and organizations, on issues meriting detailed
studies. These studies may be initiated
by the Centre as well as the States / UTs. Copies of the evaluation studies
conducted by any State will be furnished to the Central Government.
24.11 Remedial action shall be taken by the States / UTs on the basis of
the observations made in these evaluation studies.
25 Management of data and
maintenance of records
25.1 Management of Data. A key aspect of management in the scheme
will therefore be maintaining data on all aspects of implementation. This will
also be required by the Right to Information Act. A comprehensive computerized
MIS will be developed to facilitate timely updation of information.
25.2 Records to be maintained
26 Transparency and Accountability
26.1 Audit. Physical and
financial audit of the works under the scheme are compulsory. This must be
carried out at the end of the financial year by each district. The audit will
be done either by Local Fund Auditors or by the Chartered Accountants appointed
by the State Government. A copy of the audit note will be sent to the State
Government.
26.2 The Accountant General will also conduct the Audit of Accounts
of MREGS in addition to the audit conducted by the Chartered Accountant. The
audit team of the AG shall be made available a copy of the audit conducted by
the Chartered Accountant.
26.3 The Audit Report of the Chartered Accountant and the Utilization
Certificate for previous year will be submitted latest by September next year
by the District Collector. If the Audit Report is not received or if the
observations of the Auditor and of the Ministry on the audit Report are not
properly attended or complied with, to the satisfaction of the Ministry within
the financial year, the Ministry will be within its right to stop the funds for
the next financial year and the responsibility for payment of unemployment
allowance arising out of the non-availability of funds for this reasons shall
be on the State Government. The District Collector will ensure that the Opening
and Closing Balance included in both the Audit Report and the Utilization
Certificate tally. In case there is a variation due to any unavoidable reason,
it has to be clearly explained with reasons to the satisfaction of the Ministry
with documentary support, if any. If this is not done, the Ministry may stop
further release in the next year.
26.4 Processing of reports of
social audit by Gram Sabha. District Internal Audit Cell in the office of
District Collector shall be constituted to scrutinize the reports of Gram Sabha
and conduct a special audit, if necessary. A monthly report will be compiled
and sent to the District
Collector, State Programme Coordinator and the State Government who will
initiate action for serious irregularities and also appropriate preventive
action.
26.5 Applying Right to
Information and Social Audit. The objective is to make the planning,
implementation and evaluation of the MREGS more participatory, transparent and
accountable through facilitating the exercise of people’s right to information
and by encouraging social audits it involves ordinary citizens in vigilance and
enforcing accountability in a very tangible and direct manner. Social Audit
will not be retrospective, but an on-going process of participation to ensure
legal guarantees and entitlements flow to the beneficiaries in a legitimate
way. As such, there will be at least
four stages at which social audit will be inbuilt. These are the pre-planning
stage of communication and mobilization, planning, implementation, monitoring
and evaluation. At each stage, social
audit will be integrated into the critical activities that constitute the MERGS
process.
26.6 Social Audit will have certain facilitating
structures:
(a) For
every work sanctioned under the scheme, there will be a local vigilance and
monitoring committee of the villagers of the area belonging to the locality /
village where the work is undertaken to monitor the progress and quality while
work is in progress. The Gram Sabha will elect the members of this committee
and ensure that SC / ST representatives and women are represented on it. This
committee will be apprised by the implementing agency about the estimate of the
work, time-frame and quality parameters. The final report of the committee
would be attached along with the completion certificate of the work and would
also be placed in the next meeting of the Gram Sabha of the Panchayat where
work has been executed. A copy of the report will also be sent to the Block
Programme Officer and the District Collector.
(b) Local
beneficiary committees will also be considered for effective articulation of
their entitlements and their access to them. It will be the responsibility of
the Block Programme Officer to ensure that local monitoring committees /
beneficiary committees are constituted.
26.7 Public access to key records and key information will be ensured
at all levels. Records will be placed by the Gram Panchayat before the Gram
Sabha once in every quarter. A summary of
Muster Rolls will be read out for sample check.
26.8 There will be wide dissemination of information especially at
the local level. Village equivalent of
websites will be prepared. Use of Boards on Panchayats / Offices of Block
Programme Officer and District Collector to display information on monthly data
will be ensured.
26.9 All Information will be web enabled.
26.10 Training on Right to Information Act / Social Audit will be
provided to Government employees and people.
26.11 Action on audit reports (including social audit) by the State
Government. A copy of every audit report, whether conducted by the Chartered
Accountant, local fund auditor or internal audit cell and auditors of AG or
CAG, and Social Audit reports will be sent to the State Government concerned.
State Government will ensure speedy action against concerned officials /
non-officials for misappropriation of funds, frauds, wrong measurement, false
entries in muster rolls and other irregularities of serious nature resulting in
leakage of Government / public funds / resources and denial of entitlements of
workers. The State Government will also take appropriate steps to prevent such
irregularities.
26.12 Grievance Redressal
Mechanisms. The Block Programme Officer will be the Grievance Redressal
Officer at the block level and he District Collector at the District level for
disposal of grievances. Gram Sabha will provide a forum for public hearings so
that grievances may be redressed at appropriate levels. A system of appeal will
be designated so that grievances at each level are addressed. Appeal against
the Gram Panchayat will be to the Block Programme Officer. Appeal against the
Block Programme Officer will be to the District Collector. Appeal against the
District Collector may be with an appropriate authority designated by the State
Government. The State Government may also designate an alternative Grievance
Redressal authority at the block and district level and divisional levels. A
HelpLine may be designed for grievance redressal. The State Government can also
prepare and publicize a Citizen Charter. Action taken on the complaints
received by the Block Programme Officer and the District Collector shall be
placed before the meetings of the Panchayat Samiti and Zilla Parishad, respectively.
26.13 Annual reports
National Employment Guarantee Council will prepare
Annual Report to be laid before the Parliament by the Central Government on the
implementation of the Act.
The State Employment Guarantee Council will prepare
an Annual Report to be laid before the State Legislature by the State
Government. The Annual Reports will be placed before the Parliament and the
State Legislatures by 31st December succeeding year.
26.14 Technical Resource Network. Employment Guarantee Scheme is a
multi-faceted task requiring concerted efforts of multiple agencies. The State
Government may consider setting up Technical Resource Support Groups at the
State and district levels to assist in the planning, designing, monitoring and
evaluation and quality audit of various initiatives as well as in training and
hand-holding with a view to improving the quality and cost effectiveness of the
Scheme. To facilitate technical resource support to the implementing agencies,
especially at the district level, Government may identify Resource Institutions
and prepare a panel of institutions / agencies for technical resource support.
Such a panel of identified institutions may constitute the Technical Resources
Network.
26.15 Technical
Agencies. The State Government will place the SORs and standard designs on
website and also, give wide publicity by other means.
26.16 Internal quality monitoring. Every State and District will design
and enforce internal concurrent quality monitoring mechanism and it will
provide for technical inspection of works by the high technical staff and
follow-up of the inspection schedule and inspection reports.
26.17 Technical
Agencies.
A) District
Vigilance Squad under the District Collector to monitor, inspect the scheme work under scheme. The Executive
Engineer will be the in charge of squad.
B) Divisional
Level Vigilance Squad under Divisional Commissioner will monitor, inspect the
work within Division
26.18 Expenditure on Quality
Control. The expenditure on quality control may be met out of
administrative grant on the norms as may be specified by the Ministry from
time-to-time.
27
Convergence /
Dovetailing with other programmes.
27.1
Convergence
of MREGS will be permissible with funds from other sources to create durable
assets. Care will be taken to ensure that MREGS funds are not substituted for
resources from the other sectors and schemes because MREGS funds are intended
to create additional employment and this will not happen if the employment
currently created under other on going programmes is not shifted to the MREGS.
27.2 Funds available with the PRIs from other sources such as
National Finance Commission, State Finance Commission, State Departments, other
Central and Centrally Sponsored Schemes Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana
(SGSY), Drought Prone Areas Programmes (DPAP), Rashtriya Sam Vikas Yojana
(RSVY), Backward Area Grant, etc can also be dovetailed for construction of
durable community assets / works permissible under the NREGA. However, NREGA
funds will not be used as a substitute for Departmental Plan funds of different
Departments and agencies. Funds from other programmes for the works permissible
under the NREGA can be dovetailed with NREGA funds and not vice versa.
27.3 The projects which are likely to be taken up under other schemes
like PMGSY will not be taken up under MREGS to avoid duplication. However, the
areas not likely to be covered under other schemes may be taken up under MREGS.
These aspects will be taken care of in the Perspective Plan.
27.4 Convergence with social sector programmes. Social sector
programmes like literacy and health mission will be converged with MREGS to
provide the benefits of those programmes to the beneficiaries of MREGS.
However, the expenditure on services of social sector programmes will not be
diverted to the MREGS.
28 Roles and Responsibilities of Key Agencies
28.1 Central Government.
* Make Rules
* Make and Issue Guidelines
* Notify areas of application of Act
* Communication
* Budget Provision for and Release of Central share
* Set up Central Employment Guarantee Council
* Set up Central Employment Guarantee Fund
* Facilitate technical support
* Monitoring and Evaluation and Research
28.2 Central Employment Guarantee Council
* establish a central evaluation and monitoring
system;
* advise the Central Government on all matters
concerning the implementation of this Act;
* review the monitoring and redressal mechanism from
time to time and recommend improvements required;
* Promote the widest possible dissemination of
information about the Schemes made under this Act;
* monitoring the implementation of this Act;
* preparation of annual reports to be laid before
Parliament by the Central Government on the implementation of this Act;
* Any other duty or function as may be assigned to
it by the Central Government.
* The Central Council shall have the power to
undertake evaluation of the various Schemes made under this Act and for that
purpose collect or cause to be collected statistics pertaining to the rural
economy and the implementation of the Schemes.
28.3 State Government
* Make Rules on matters pertaining to state
responsibilities under the Act (32(1))
* Make and notify the Employment Guarantee Scheme
* Communication.
* Se up the Employment Guarantee Council
* Set up the Employment Guarantee Fund
* Budget Provision for and Release of State Share
* Planning and Implementation of Employment
Guarantee Scheme
* Provide technical support
* Training.
* Pay Unemployment Allowance if employment not given
in 15 days despite adequate funds being available.
* Monitoring and Evaluation and Research
28.4 Employment Guarantee Council
* advising the State Government on all matters
concerning the Scheme and its implementation in the State.
* Determining the preferred works.
* reviewing the monitoring and redressal mechanisms
from time to time and recommending improvements;
* promoting the widest possible dissemination of
information about this Act and the Schemes under it;
* monitoring the implementation of this Act and the
Schemes in the State and coordinating such implementation with the Central
Council;
* preparing the annual report to be laid before the
State Legislature by the State Government.
* Any other duty or function as may be assigned to
it by the Central Council or the State Government.
* The State Council shall have the power to
undertake an evaluation of the Schemes operating in the State and for that
purpose to collect or cause to be collected statistics pertaining to the rural
economy and the implementation of the Schemes and Programmes in the State.
* Terms and conditions of the Chairperson and
Members of the State Employment Guarantee Council shall be described by the
State Government.
28.5 Gram Sabha.
* Assist in identification of beneficiaries
* Recommend developmental works
* Social audit of all projects within the Gram
Panchayat Jurisdiction.
28.6 Panchayati Raj Institutions
* The Village, Intermediate and Zilla Parishads
shall be the principal authorities for planning and implementation of the
scheme made under the NREG Act.
* The Panchayats at all levels can be the
implementing agencies under the Act.
* At least 50% works in terms of cost will be
allotted to Gram Pabcgatats for implementation.
* The Gram Panchayat shall be responsible for
identification of the projects to be taken up in its area under the scheme as
per the recommendations of the Gram/ward Sabha and the same shall be forwarded
to programme officer for scrutiny and preliminary approval.
* The Gram Panchayat shall prepare a development
plan and maintain shelf of possible works to be taken up under the scheme as
and when demand for work arises.
* The Panchayat Samiti shall approve the block level
plan and forward the same to Zilla Parishad for approval.
* The Zilla Parishad shall finalize and approve
block-wise shelf of projects to be taken up for Implementation under the
scheme.
* The plan approved by Zilla Parishad will assign
implementation responsibilities to various agencies like Panchayats, line
departments, NGOs, etc.
28.7 Block Programme Officer
* Responsible for matching the demand for employment
with the employment opportunities arising from projects in the area under his
jurisdiction.
* Overall supervision and coordination of
registration of applicants for employment and for providing wage employment in
accordance with the provisions of the Act and the Scheme notified by the State.
* Prepare a plan for the Block under his
jurisdiction by consolidating the project proposals prepared by the Gram
Panchayats and the proposals received from Panchayat Samitis.
* Receive resources from District Programme
Coordinator and the release them to the implementing agency in accordance with
these Guidelines and the Scheme of the State Government.
* Maintain proper accounts of the resources
received, released and utilized.
* Monitoring of projects taken up by the Gram
Panchayats and other implementing/ executing agencies within his jurisdiction;
* Sanctioning and ensuring payment of unemployment
allowance to the eligible households;
* ensuring prompt and fair payment of wages to all
labourers employed under a programme of the Scheme within his jurisdiction;
* ensuring that regular social audits of all works
within the jurisdiction of the Gram Panchayat are carried out by the Gram Sabha
and that prompt action is taken on the objections raised in the social audit;
* dealing promptly with all complaints that may
arise in connection with the implementation of the Scheme within the Block; and
* any other work as may be assigned to him by the
District Programme Coordinator or the State Government.
* The Programme Officers shall-function under the
direction, control and superintendence of the District Programme Coordinator.
28.8 District Collector
* To assist the Zilla Parishad in discharging its
functions under this Act and any Scheme made there under;
* To consolidate the plans prepared by the Blocks
and project proposals received from other implementing agencies for inclusion
in the shelf of projects to be approved by the Panchayat at district level;
* to accord necessary sanction and administrative
clearance, wherever necessary;
* to coordinate with the Programme Officers
functioning within his jurisdiction and the implementing agencies to ensure
that the applicants are provided employment as per their entitlements under
this Act ;
* to review, monitor and supervise the performance
of the Programme Officers;
* to conduct periodic inspection of the works in
progress; and
* to redress the grievances of the applicants.
* to prepare in the month of December every year a
labour budget for the next financial year containing the details of anticipated
demand for unskilled manual work in the district and the plan for engagement of
labourers in the works covered under the Scheme and submit it to the Zilla
Parishad.
29 Conclusion
29.1 Government attaches the highest importance to the vigorous and
effective implementation of the Maharashtra Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme
and desires to impress on all officers at all levels under the jurisdiction of
the different Government departments as also the Zilla Parishads and the
Panchayat Samitis that they will look
upon the MREGS as a challenging task of crucial value to a large segment of the
under privileged section of the community in the rural areas and that they will
render unstinted co-operation and assistance in the faithful and dedicated
implementation of the scheme. It shall be the personal responsibility of the
Collectors to secure this co-operation from all officers in the districts and
to report to Government cases of failures, negligence or inadvertence.
29.2 Government also directs that the widest publicity will be given
to these orders and operational procedures prescribed for planning and
implementation of the Maharashtra Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme throughout
the state so as to create an atmosphere of work consciousness for the creation
of durable and productive assets calculated to result in the development of the
rural economy.
Annexure
- A
The districts (rural area)
which are covered under NREG Act, 2005
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