Executive Summary:
This document is a response to questions raised in Lok Sabha regarding the monitoring mechanisms under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). It clarifies that the scheme is implemented by States/UTs according to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005, and Ministry guidelines. The document details the robust monitoring mechanisms in place to ensure proper implementation, fund utilization, transparency, and accountability. The response was issued on July 22, 2025.
Key Points / Main Content:
Implementation and Compliance:
* MGNREGS is implemented by State/UT Governments per the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005, and Ministry's Annual Master Circulars.
* States/UTs are responsible for compliance with guidelines, the Act, and relevant Rules.
* All works must follow due processes, including approval, technical sanction, execution, measurement, and payment.
* Regular monitoring, social audits, and inspections ensure transparency and accountability.
* Deviations are addressed according to the Act and guidelines.
Monitoring Mechanisms:
* Robust monitoring is in place for implementation and fund utilization.
* Social audits are conducted at the Gram Panchayat level.
* Grievance Redressal Mechanisms exist through Ombudspersons.
* Monitoring is conducted by National Level Monitors and Central Teams.
* Internal audits are performed.
* Area Officers app is used for monitoring.
* Common Review Missions and Performance Review Committees are utilized.
* The National Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS) is used for attendance capture.
* The Janmanrega app is available for citizen feedback.
Technological Interventions:
* Yuktdhara: A GIS-based planning tool developed with ISRONRSC.
* SECURE Software: Used for estimate calculation.
* GeoMGNREGA: Tracks asset creation through geo-tagging (6.36 crore assets geo-tagged).
* Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT): Over 99% of wage payments are electronically credited.
* Aadhaar Payment Bridge System: Wage payments made via Aadhaar, with 12.03 crore of 12.08 crore active workers' Aadhaar seeded.
Impact Analysis:
State/UT Governments:
Impact: Responsible for implementing MGNREGS according to the Act and guidelines, ensuring compliance, and addressing deviations.
Action Required: Ensure adherence to guidelines and the Act, conduct regular monitoring, and address deviations as per regulations.
MGNREGS Workers:
Impact: Wages are paid through DBT and the Aadhaar Payment Bridge System, enhancing transparency and minimizing leakages.
Action Required: Ensure Aadhaar is seeded to receive payments through the Aadhaar Payment Bridge System.
Citizens:
Impact: Can provide feedback and information through the Janmanrega app.
Action Required: Utilize the Janmanrega app to provide feedback and information.
Ministry of Rural Development:
Impact: Responsible for issuing guidelines, conducting monitoring, and implementing measures to enhance transparency and accountability.
Action Required: Continue to implement and refine monitoring mechanisms and technological interventions to improve the scheme's efficiency and transparency.
Gram Panchayats:
Impact: Responsible for conducting social audits.
Action Required: Conduct social audits to ensure transparency and accountability.
Key Entities Referenced
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005: The legal framework under which MGNREGS is implemented.
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme: A scheme for enhancing livelihood security of households in rural areas of India by providing at least one hundred days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year to every household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.
SHRI SHER SINGH GHUBAYA: Member of Parliament who asked a question related to MGNREGS in Lok Sabha.
SHRI SUKHJINDER SINGH RANDHAWA: Member of Parliament who asked a question related to MGNREGS in Lok Sabha.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the question about MGNREGS was raised.
Gram Panchayat: A village level council responsible for local governance, where social audits are conducted under MGNREGS.
Aadhaar Payment Bridge System: A system used for making wage payments to beneficiaries under MGNREGS, leveraging the Aadhaar identification system.
Yuktdhara: A GIS-based planning tool developed in collaboration with ISRONRSC to simplify geospatial planning at the Gram Panchayat level for MGNREGS.
O.I.H.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 373
ANSWERED ON 22/07/2025
MONITORING MECHANISM UNDER MGNREGS
373. SHRI SHER SINGH GHUBAYA:
SHRI SUKHJINDER SINGH RANDHAWA:
Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is often observed that no policy or rules are being
followed for implementation of works after allocation of funds
under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee
Scheme (MGNREGS);
(b) whether the Government proposes to establish any monitoring
mechanism for proper implementation of works and optimum
utilisation of allocated funds; and
(c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI KAMLESH PASWAN)
(a): Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme
(Mahatma Gandhi NREGS) is implemented by the States as per the
provisions of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment
Guarantee Act, 2005 and Annual Master Circulars, issued by the
Ministry from time to time. It is the responsibility of the State/UT
Governments to ensure compliance with these Guidelines and the
provisions of the Mahatma Gandhi NREG Act and the relevant Rules.
All works undertaken under the Scheme are required to follow
due processes, including approval, technical sanction, proper
execution, measurement and payment, as per laid down norms.
Regular monitoring, social audits, and inspections are conducted to
ensure transparency, accountability, and adherence to the
prescribed procedures. Deviations, if any found, are dealt with as
per the provisions of the Act and guidelines.
Page 1 of 2(b)&(c): A robust monitoring mechanism is in place for ensuring
proper implementation of works and optimum utilization of allocated
funds under the Mahatma Gandhi NREGS. The Ministry of Rural
Development has implemented several measures to enhance
transparency and accountability in the efficient execution of the
scheme, in accordance with the provisions of the act and the
guidelines issued periodically. Some of these measures include:
1. Conduct of Social audit at Gram Panchayat level
2. Grievance Redressal Mechanisms through appointment of
Ombudspersons.
3. Monitoring by National Level Monitors and Central Teams
4. Conduct of Internal audit
5. Monitoring through use of Area Officers app
6. Common Review Mission and Performance Review Committee.
7. Use of National Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS) for
capturing of attendance.
8. Janmanrega app for seeking citizen feedback and information
In addition some of the technological interventions which are used
for effective implementation of the scheme are given below. :
1. Yuktdhara: GIS based planning tool – To simplify the GIS based
planning at GP level, Yuktdhara, a Geospatial planning portal is
developed in collaboration with ISRO-NRSC.
2. SECURE – Software for Estimate Calculation for using Rural Rates
for Employment: Application is being used for estimate calculation
of works to be undertaken under the scheme.
3. GeoMGNREGA: The app has been developed by using technology
to track the creation of assets by geo tagging it, at “Before”,
“During” and “After” stages of the asset creation. So far, a total of
6.36 crore assets have been geotagged.
4. Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT): To bring in more transparency in
the system and minimize leakages, Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)
system in wage payment has been adopted. Under the programme,
more than 99% of payments of wages are electronically credited
into the accounts of the workers through DBT system.
5. Aadhaar Payment Bridge System: Wage payments are made
through Aadhaar Payment Bridge System into the accounts of the
beneficiaries following the DBT protocol. Against the total of 12.08
crore active workers, Aadhaar of 12.03 crore active workers have
been seeded so far.
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