New Delhi: Opposition's demand for early release of MGNREGA funds to states and the government's response that these were being given on time led to heated exchanges between the ruling and opposition benches in Lok Sabha and a brief adjournment of its proceedings on Thursday.
Dissatisfied with Rural Development Minister Birender Singh's reply, more than 15 Opposition members, including those from Congress, RJD, SP and Left parties, trooped into the Well raising slogans seeking early release of funds.
While some members during Question Hour raised concerns about delays in release of funds by the Centre for the scheme, the Minister said money is being released on time.
Noting it was a "demand-driven" programme, Singh said in the current fiscal itself, the government has already released about Rs 12,000 crore to various states.
Singh said that payment of unemployment allowance in cases where the applicant did not get a job under the MGNREGS was the responsibility of respective state governments.
Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said Chief Ministers of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha have written to the Centre about inadequate availability of funds for the scheme. He wondered "who is telling the truth, the states or the Centre."
In response, the Minister said enough funds have been allocated for the scheme and additional money would be given.
"If you are not satisfied with the (Minister's) reply, there are other ways (to raise the matter)," Speaker Sumitra Mahajan told the agitating members.
As the Opposition members were dissatisfied with the Minister's reply and continued their protests, the proceedings were adjourned for ten minutes.
Soon after the House re-assembled, the pandemonium continued with the Opposition demanding release of central funds for the "farmers and the poor" on time.
SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav said MGNREGA funds should be linked to the MPLAD scheme with stringent conditions as it would ensure timely release of money to the states.
Though the House took up a question on renewable energy, not much could be heard as the opposition din continued. Power Minister Piyush Goyal retorted that since their leader (Rahul Gandhi) has left the House, they should end the sloganeering.
After the end of the Question Hour, Speaker requested the agitating members to return to their seats.
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act
(MGNREGA) mandates the state government to provide employment to every household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work for not less than 100 days in a financial year.
Singh said there have been complaints of non-provision of work from various states and non-registration of demand for work.
"Government remains actively engaged with state governments in establishing the system that ensures provision of work as per demand," he noted.
In the last financial year, out of the 4.65 crore households which sought employment under the scheme, only 4.13 crore were provided employment, according to official data.
During 2013-14, as many as 5.18 crore households applied and just about 4.79 crore got employment. In 2012-13 fiscal, employment was given to 4.99 crore households whereas the number of applicants stood at 5.15 crore.
Under the Act, unemployment allowance becomes payable in case an applicant is not provided employment within 15 days of receipt of the application seeking job.
In his reply, Singh cited provisional figures and said that payable unemployment allowance under the scheme stood at Rs 153.72 crore in 2014-15. The amount was Rs 138.82 crore and Rs 233.69 crore in 2013-14 and 2012-13 financial years respectively.
To another query, Singh said in some states wages are high under the scheme. However, the government does not allow paying wages that are less than the minimum stipulated amount, he added.
