PUDUCHERRY: The Union Government released RS 1.1 Lakh Crore funds under the National Rural Workshop Law Mahatma Gandhi (MGNREGA) to all States and the United States for the financial year 2020-21, said Minister of State for the Rural Development of Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti.
In a written reply for the query submitted by Villupuram MP D Ravikumar, Minister of Furnished Statistics of countries about the funds released for the 2020-21 fiscal year and the people produced until July 16 for the fiscal year 2021-22 under Mgnrega.
Tamil Nadu, who received Rs 8,941 Crore in the last fiscal, stood six in the list of countries that received the highest central funds.
Uttar Pradesh topped the list with RS 12,257 Crore followed by West Bengal (RS 10,993 Crore), Andhra Pradesh (Rs 10,365 Crore), Madhya Pradesh (RS 9,225 Crore) and Rajasthan (RS 9,129 Crore).
The ministry has proposed to produce 278.3 crore people for current fiscal.
On July 16, a total of 120.5 crore people had been produced in the current fiscal.
Andhra Pradesh topped the list with 18.4 crore people followed by Madhya Pradesh (13.7 Crore), Telangana (9.8 Crore), Rajasthan (8.6 Crore), West Bengal (8.3 Crore) and Odisha (8 Crore).
Because MGNREGA is a ‘driven demand’ program, the Ministry of Rural Development does not make a wise financial allocation.
The minister said the ministry had taken adequate steps to strengthen transparency and accountability such as geo-asset marking, direct benefit transfers, national electronic fund management systems, aadhaar-based payment systems, software for estimated calculations for the work and appointment of ombudsperson in each district State and the United States.
The ministry has also advised the States and the territory of the union to establish an independent social audit unit, train village speakers and hold a regular social audit.
“The responsibility of the implementation of Mahatma Gandhi Nrega is among the State / UTS.
The Ministry regularly reviewed the implementation performance.
The Central Employment Guarantee Council and the State Employment Assurance Board periodically monitored the program implementation,” Jyoti said.
Officials from the Ministry will visit the state and the United States and make field visits to review the progress of the program.
They will share shortcomings and recommendations with the state and the United States for the right action.