MAHATMA GANDHI NATIONAL RURAL EMPLOYMENT GUARANTEE ACT, 2005

3 · 5 Freshl new Job Cards

3 · 6 Implementation of Indicative Framework for new Job Cards. 3.7 Pro-active inclusion of SECC Vulnerable households . 4. Entitlement II- Right to Demand and receive work within 15 days. 4.1 Demand for work

4 · 2 Allocation of work

4 · 3 Multiple mechanisms for demand for work_ 4.4 Dated Receipt. 4.5 Rozgar Diwas _ 4.6 E-muster Roll 12 5. Entitlement III- Right to Unemployment Allowance _ 13 5.1 Responsibility of the State Government 13 5.2 Calculation and payment of Unemployment Allowance 13 5.3 Suggested procedure to State Governments for payment of Unemployment Allowance - 14 5.4 Cessation of liability to pay Unemployment Allowance 14 5.5 Cessation of claim to Unemployment Allowance. 14 5.6 Automatic Payment of Unemployment Allowance 14 5.7 Workers filing for unemployment allowance 14 6. Entitlement IV- Right to Plan and Prepare a Shelf of Projects 15 6.1. Preparation of Labour Budget and the Annual Convergent Planning for Identification of Projects Exercise _ 15 6.2 Focus on vulnerable households 17 6.3 Gram Panchayats as custodian of shelf of works _ 18 6.4 Expected outcomes 18 6.5 Entry of Works into MIS and implementation of works as per decided priority _ 18 6.6 Convergence. 18 6.7 Suggested timelines for planning - 19 7. Entitlement V- Right to obtain work within radius of 5 km. 20

7 · 1 Work Execution under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA_ 7.1.1 Implementing Agencies. 7.1.2 Wage Material Ratio 7.1.3 Use of Machines _

7 · 1.4 Outcome Orientation of Works 22 7.1.5 Estimates/Design Preparation and Technical Vetting by Superior Authorities 22 7.1.6 Production of building materials 22 7.1.7 Procurement of Materials under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA 22 7.2 Types of Works _ 23 7.2.1 Restructuring of list of permissible works 23 7.2.2 Non- permissible Works. 26 7.3 Works Focusing on Agriculture and Allied Activities. 26 7.4 Natural Resource Management Works Mission Water Conservation (MWC). 27 7.5. Works requiring special focus_ 30 7.6 Afforestation, Tree Plantation and Horticulture_ 31 7.7 Rural Infrastructure 34 7.8 Promotion of Aquaculture. 37 7.9 Solid Waste Management (SWM) under MGNREGS . 37 7.10 Continuous availability of works 38 7.11 Quality Control & Maintenance of Works under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA 39 7.12 Convergence with National Rural Livelihood Mission under the Cluster Facilitation Team Strategy 44 8. Entitlement VI- Right to worksite facilities 47 9. Entitlement VII and VIII- Right to notified wage rate and right to receive wages within 15 days 48 10. Entitlement IX: Right to time bound redress of grievances, right to conduct concurrent Social Audits and Social Audits of all Mahatma Gandhi NREGA expenditure _ 52 10.1 Setting up of an Independent Social Audit Unit:. 52 10.2 Concurrent Social Audits 56 10.3 Ombudsperson 56 10.4 Grievance Redressal_ 57 10.5 Vigilance . 57 10.6 Mandatory Pro-Active Disclosure. 58 10.7 Minimum Principles of Transparency and Accountability 58 10.8 Record Keeping: 59 11. Information Education Communication (IEC) Activities 60 12. MIS (NREGASoft). 62

12 · 1 NREGASoft

12 · 3 e-Muster Roll

12 · 4 MIS Measurement Book _

13 · GeoMGNREGA GIS implementation under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA 14. Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) and the Aadhaar Platform

14 · 5 DBT Strategy 14.6 Step by Step process of conversion of accounts into Aadhaar Based Payments (ABPS) 71 15. Financing Mahatma Gandhi NREGA 74 15.1 Release of Funds 74 15.1.1 First Tranche 74

15 · 1.2 Second tranche

15 · 2 Administrative Expenses. 15.3 Complaints and fund release 15.3.1 Standard Operating Procedure on Complaints 15.3.2 Establishing Complaint Cells in States 16. Skilling and Capacity Building under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA 16.1 Barefoot Technicians 17 . Partnership with Civil Society Organizations 18. Awards

19 · Research under MGNREGA 20. Key Functionaries and their Roles 20.1 Gram Panchayat Level _ 20.2 Technical Assistant

20 · 3 Block Level

20 · 4 District Level .

1 · Act and Schedule

1 · 1. The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act was notified in 2005. As per an amendment to the Act the words Mahatma Gandhi: were prefixed to National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. The Act covers the entire country with the exception of districts that have hundred percent urban population.

1 · 2. States have notified their respective Mahatma Gandhi NREGA Schemes, as per the requirement of the Act The Scheme formulated by the State Government, should provide for the minimum features specified in Schedule I. Persons employed under any State Scheme made under the Act shall be entitled to minimum facilities listed in Schedule I[ of the Act. These State Schemes have to be consistent with the amendments made, from time to time, to the Act and its Schedules.

1 · 3.. States are required to amend/ modify their Mahatma Gandhi NREG Schemes as per amendments made in the Schedule [ & I[ from time to time.

2 · Entitlements under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA

2 · 1 Mahatma Gandhi NREGA provides a number of legal entitlements to rural workers through a series of provisions in the law_ While the Act makes provision for hundred days work per rural household in a year; it is the strong legal framework of rights and entitlements that come together to make the hundred days of work per year possible. It is therefore essential that the implementation of Mahatma Gandhi NREGA is read, understood and implemented keeping the entitlements in view.

2 · 2 The Annual Master Circular for the FY 2018-19, like the earlier versions, is organised around the major entitlements of the workers and the mechanisms that enable the administration to implement the Act:

2 · 3 The Master Circular is a comprehensive document covering all aspects of Mahatma Gandhi NREGA implementation. However, Mahatma Gandhi NREGA, 2005 and the Schedule I and IL as amended from time to time, should be referred to, aS and when required.

3 · Entitlement

3 · 1 Possession of Job Cards All the Job cards (JC) must remain in the custody of concerned workers and possession of JC by any other person, including functionaries and PRIs shall be considered as violation of the Act. If taken for updating, the JC must be returned immediately, afterwards. JC found in the possession of any Panchayat o Mahatma Gandhi NREGA functionary, without a valid reason, will be considered as an offence punishable under Section 25 of the Act: It is the role of the District Programme Coordinator and the State Government to ensure that the JC remains in the possession of the concerned JC holders only.

3 · 2 Regular updation of entries in the JCs It shall be the duty of the concerned Gram Rozgar Sahayak O authorised functionary to update the JC of all workers, who have demanded work; have been allocated work and received payments, within 15 days from the date of any of these events.

3 · 3 Verification/ updation of Job Cards through campaigns The States may hold time bound campaigns to verifyl update JCs. It is the role of the District Programme Coordinatorl Collector and the State Government to ensure that these verification campaigns are conducted in a time bound manner_ For verification/ updation of a Job Card; the following may be looked into: SECC TIN number, if any, bank account/ Post Office account number must be verified and entered into the Job Card. ji. Either family photo or photos of workers or individual photos (preferably) of that family, duly attested by the competent authority is mandatory: iii. Demand, allocation, work done and payment details must be updated in the Job Card.

3 · 4 Cancellation of Job Cards No JC is to be cancelled in a routine manner and certainly not on the ground of non-demand/ non reporting for work: JCs can be cancelled, after due verification, only if, The household has migrated permanently to the urban areas, or ii. It is proved to be a duplicate or

3 · 5 Fresh/ new Job Cards The Programme Officer/District Programme Coordinator/ the State Government will ensure that fresh job cards are issued with the same unique number in cases where the previously issued job card is not fit for further usage_ New names will be entered on the existing Job Cards in case of new members attaining adulthood, new additions in the households due to marriage etc.

3 · 6 Implementation of Indicative Framework for new Job Cards The Ministry, in consultation with the States/ UTs has formulated and issued an Indicative Framework' for JC with respect to basic/ minimal requirements that should be ensured in every Mahatma Gandhi NREGA Job Card issued to beneficiaries across the country in context of: Content ii. Layout iii. Cost iv. Implementation The States/ UTs may incorporate the indicative guidelines for the new Job Cards being issued under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA from May 2017. However; those States which have already issued new Job Cards post the Job Card verification process undertaken during FY 2016-17 may continue with the newly issued job cards, and ensure that the indicative guidelines are incorporated next time the Job cards are issued.

3 · 7 Pro-active inclusion of SECC Vulnerable households The households that are listed as vulnerable or deprived as per the SECC should be issued Job Cards on priority. There is a possibility that many *landless households dependent on manual casual labour for livelihood' category as per Socio Economic Caste Census (SECC), 2011, are not yet registered under the scheme. The States/ UTs may proactively reach out to these landless and manual casual labour households and register these households who do not have Job Cards and are willing to work under MGNREGS. 3.8 Violations of any of the above provisions will be considered as an ffence under the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA, thereby attracting the provisions of Section 25 of the Act:

4 · Entitlement II- Right to Demand and receive work within 15 days

4 · 1 Demand for work 4.1.1 Registering demand for work is central to the implementation of Mahatma Gandhi NREGA The Programme Officer and the Programme Implementing Agencies (PIAs) must ensure that the process of submission of applications for work is kept open on continuous basis. Every demand for work is required to be acknowledged by a dated receipt: 4.1.2 Normally, applications for work must be submitted for at least fourteen days of continuous work and provision shall be made in the Scheme for submission of multiple applications by the same person, provided that the corresponding periods for which employment is sought; do not overlap:

4 · 2 Allocation of work 4.2.1 The Programme Officer and implementing agencies must ensure that workers in need of employment under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA are provided work within 15 days of the receipt of the application or the date of demand, in case of advance application, whichever is later. 4.2.2 The mandate of the Act is to provide at least 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to every rural household whose adult member volunteers to do unskilled manual work The Ministry mandates the provision of additional 50 days of wage employment (beyond the stipulated 100 days) per Scheduled Tribe Household in a forest area, provided that these households have no other private property except for the land rights provided under the FRA Act 2006. 4.2.3 In exercise of the provisions under Section 3 (4) of Mahatma Gandhi NREGA, the Central Government has decided to provide an additional 50 days of unskilled manual work in a financial year, over and above the 100 days assured to job card holders in such rural areas where drought or natural calamities (as per Ministry of Home Affairs) have been notified. The notification to provide additional 50 days of unskilled manual work over and above 100 days in drought o natural calamity notified rural areas, is issued by the Ministry of Rural Development as recommended by Ministry of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare. 4.2.4 As per the provisions of Para 9, Schedule [ of the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA, State Governments must ensure that an adequate shelf of works is approved and made available in every Gram Panchayat of the State at all times to meet the demand for work of the job seekers, with or without prior registration of demand. Incompletel ongoing works should be given priority in allocation f work:

4 · 3 Multiple mechanisms for demand for work 4.3.1 State Governments are mandated to put in place multiple mechanisms by which rural households can submit applications for demand for work at the Gram Panchayat (Gram Panchayat) , Block and District level. 4.3.2 The multiple channels to receive applications for work should necessarily include Programme Officer (Programme Officer), Gram Rozgar Sahayak, Panchayat Secretarylother officials in the Gram Panchayat, Sarpanch, Ward members, Anganwadi workers, Mates, SHGs Village Organizations, village level revenue functionaries, Common Service Centres, Producers Groups under DAY-NRLM and Mahatma Gandhi NREGA Labour Groups. 4.3.3 Registration of demand should necessarily include provisions through multiple modes. It shall be ensured that concerned functionaries are sensitised on these multiple channels and modes, and demand from any one of them is considered valid and honoured as per timeline of 15 days. The multiple modes include: a) Oral application, duly reduced to a written application of demand b) Written application (through specified forms/Form 6/white paper) Telephonic application (through the Interactive Voice Response System (IVRSYCall Centres) Through Kiosks set up by the State Governments Online application (through the NREGASoftlor any other web medium duly notified by the appropriate government) 4.3.4 The demand can be registered at the Gram Panchayat office, Block office, during the Rozgar Diwas as well as at the worksite. 4.3.5 The Gram Panchayat O the Programme Officer, as the case may be, shall be bound to accept valid applications of work 4.3.6 The State may facilitate registration of demand and allocation of work at worksite through biometric or MMS facility. 4.3.7 In addition, the Ministry may facilitate direct registration of application for demand for work through a national IVRS and the NREGASoft (worker module) amongst others

4 · 4 Dated Receipt The demand for work must be followed by the issuance of a dated receipt; without fail. Immediately upon receipt of application for demand for work, the GRSIconcerned Gram Panchayat level functionaries shall issue a dated receipt acknowledging the same. It shall be ensured that application for demand for work received from any automated system shall result in an automatic generation of dated receipt acknowledging the same. Non - provision of dated receipt will be considered as an offence punishable under Section 25 of the Act:

4 · 5 Rozgar Diwas In order to accurately register unmet demand, effectively convey the entitlements and rights of workers and redress grievances, Gram Rozgar Diwas should be organised as means of demand registration and grievance redressal. The District Programme Coordinator must ensure that the Rozgar Diwas is preceded by appropriate IEC activities. The Gram Panchayats must be especially oriented on the Rozgar Diwas calendar: 4.5.1. Roles and Responsibilities for the conduct of the Rozgar Diwas are as under: The District Programme Coordinator will ensure that Rozgar Diwas is organized according to a monthly schedule devised by the District Programme Coordinator or by

4 · 6 E-muster Roll E-muster has been operationalised in almost all the Gram Panchayats. While 100% coverage is desirable, e-muster has encountered implementation challenges owing to accessibility, internet connectivity; etc_ Therefore, after careful consideration, it has been decided that; the State Governments may permit issuance of paper musters, for specified blocks, after seeking prior approval of the Ministry. State Governments are encouraged to devise appropriate mechanisms that facilitate the registration of demand at worksites

4 · 7 . Violations of any of the above provisions will be considered as an offence under the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA, thereby attracting the provisions of Section 25 of the Act:

5 · Entitlement III- Right to Unemployment Allowance

5 · 1 Responsibility of the State Government Accordingly, State Governments are required to: 5.1.1 Specify the rate of unemployment allowance payable, which will not be less than one-fourth of the wage rate for the first thirty days and not less than one-half of the wage rate for the remaining period of the financial year: 5.1.2 Frame Rules governing the procedure for payment of Unemployment Allowance_ 5.1.3 Make necessary budgetary provision for payment of Unemployment Allowance.

5 · 2 Calculation and payment of Unemployment Allowance 5.2.1 NREGASoft has been enabled to calculate Unemployment Allowance based on the data entered by the implementing machinery. The detailed section on Mahatma Gandhi NREGA MIS in the present document may be referred to for further information. NREGASoft will check for cases of demand which have not resulted in provision of work within 15 days from the date of registration of demand Or the date from which work has been demanded, whichever is later: The provision of work is evidenced by the date at which the muster roll is started. 5.2.2 Based on this data, the Unemployment Allowance will be calculated and placed in the log- in of the Programme Officer (Programme Officer) for/ her/his decision in the matter. The decision of the Programme Officer will be made available on the web reports of NREGASoft: The Programme Officer will ensure that all entries relating to Unemployment Allowance are made through NREGAsoft only. 5.2.3 Following the process defined in the relevant rules framed by State Government; Unemployment Allowance shall be paid to the workers. The State Government; District Programme Co-ordinator (District Programme Coordinator) and Programme Officers will monitor this for each Gram Panchayat and also take all required remedial measures, like getting an adequate shelf of projects prepared in the Gram Panchayats. MIS Reports on payment of unemployment allowance and remedial measures taken will have to be part of the essential set of reports for monitoring at the State level. 5.2.4 The JC should contain the amount of Unemployment Allowance paid, if any. The Register III (to be maintained at the Gram Panchayat) should contain requisite information of Unemployment Allowance paid to the workers_

5 · 3 Suggested procedure to State Governments for payment of Unemployment Allowance The procedure should be kept very simple and may include: 5.3.1 Automatic generation of a payment order (requiring no separate sanction order) and payment of Unemployment Allowance from the SEGF O any other fund specified for this purpose, on the basis of the data in the Programme Management Information System (NREGASoft) 5.3.2 Payment is to be made no later than 15 days. If the decision is not taken within 15 days then it shall be deemed as approved, from when it becomes due o else the recipients shall be entitled to compensation based on the same principles as Compensation for Delayed Payment of Wages. 5.3.3 Unemployment Allowances to be credited to Bank/ Post Office account, as in the case of wage payments etc.

5 · 4 Cessation of liability to pay Unemployment Allowance The liability of the State Government to pay Unemployment Allowance to household during any financial year shall cease as soon as: 5.4.1 The work is allocated by Gram Panchayat or Programme Officer with the instruction to report for work, either by himselflherself or to depute at least one adult member of his/her household; or 5.4.2 The period for which employment is sought comes to an end and no member of the household of the applicant had turned up for employment; o 5.4.3 The adult members of the household of the applicant have received in total at least one hundred days of work within the financial year; Or 5.4.4 The household of the applicant has earned as much from the wages and Unemployment Allowance taken together as is equal to the wages for one hundred days of work during the financial year:

5 · 5 Cessation of claim to Unemployment Allowance An applicant who does not accept the employment provided to her/his household; O does not report for work within fifteen days of being notified by the Programme Officer or the implementing agency; or continuously remains absent from work without obtaining permission from the concerned implementing agency, for & period of more than one week; Or remains absent for a total period of more than one week in any month, shall not be eligible to claim the Unemployment Allowance payable under this Act for a period of three months but shall be eligible to seek employment under the Scheme at any time.

5 · 6 Automatic Payment of Unemployment Allowance Failure to take decision and pay Unemployment Allowance during the prescribed time shall result in payment of due amount into the account of the worker:

5 · 7 Workers filing for unemployment allowance Wage seekers can also apply for the Unemployment Allowance at the Gram Panchayat or Block Office. 5.8. Violations of any of the above provisions will be considered as an offence under the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA, thereby attracting the provisions of Section 25 of the Act:

6 · Entitlement IV- Right to Plan and Prepare a Shelf of Projects

6 · 1. Preparation of Labour Budget and the Annual Convergent Planning for Identification of Projects Exercise 6.1.1 Identification of Shelf of Projects and preparation of Labour Budget (LB) estimate is an essential annual work plan document that entails planning, approval, funding and project execution modalities. Since the Shelf of Works and LBs are prepared in accordance with the provisions under Sections 13 to 16 of the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA Act, the District Programme Coordinator has to ensure strict adherence to the principle of bottom-up approach from the stage of planning to approval of the selected shelf of projects by each Gram Sabha/Ward Sabha in the district: The District Programme Coordinator is also responsible for preparing 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. 6.1.2 The annual planning exercise for Mahatma Gandhi NREGA will be part of the Convergent Planning Exercise for the Ministry: The thrust is o planning for works related to Natural Resource Management (NRM), agriculture and allied activities and livelihood related works on individual's land leading to sustainable livelihoods as well as provisioning of livestock shelters for the individual households. The NRM related works under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA shall be taken up in convergence with Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) , Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) and Command Area and Water Management (CAD&WM) schemes for better outcomes of the water conservation and water harvesting measures_ Technical inputs for planning shall be drawn from the technical resources available in the district under MGNREGS, CSO partners and other line department agencies In case of planning for NRM works, the technical inputs will be drawn from the joint pool of technical personnel of IWMP in Watershed Cell cum Data Centre (WCDC), Mahatma Gandhi NREGA unit, Water Resource Department and the Agriculture Department: The technical inputs relating to Excavation; Renovation Modernisation (ERM) water bodies may also be sought from Regional Office of Central Ground Water Commission (CWC):

6 · 1.3 The Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and producers groups under DAY- NRLM will be closely involved in the planning especially in case of implementation of watershed projects under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS. 6.1.4 The Gram Panchayats while deliberating and finalizing prioritization of shelf of projects will keep Macro and Micro watersheds of 2500- 5000 hectares that often comprise 1-10 Gram Panchayats, in perspective. To facilitate evidence based scientific NRM planning process the recommended work plan on Watersheds/ Command Area approach as approved in the District Irrigation Plan will be sent to all the concerned Gram Panchayats for community validation and vetting; The final DPR, reflecting all community suggestions will then be recommended by all Gram Sabhas of all Gram Panchayats involved in the Watershed Command Area. The process of creating a community organization at the watershed level will also commence simultaneously so that a community led planning and implementation structure is in place well before financial resources are committed for the project 6.1.5 The Gram Panchayat should also synchronize the shelf of projects with Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) so that all MGNREGS works are necessarily part of the GPDP. 6.1.6 Cluster Facilitation Teams of the MGNREGS and intensive block staff of DAY-NRLM should be actively involved in planning process, including in 2264 Blocks (93351 Gram Panchayats) identified under Mission Water Conservation. 6.1.7 Proceedings of each Gram Sabha/Ward Sabha in which the respective shelf of projects for the GP has been approved, have to be uploaded as an attachment to the respective LB in the MIS. 6.1.8 The State Government is also required to furnish a certificate to the effect that the provisions made in the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA for preparation of Shelf of Works and LB have been taken into account and a bottom-up approach has been adhered to in the preparation of Shelf of Work. 6.1.9 The labour Budget should comprise a month wise anticipated quantum of demand for work along with a plan that outlines the quantum and schedule of works to be provided to those who demand work. 6.1.10 Steps in the Labour Budget Preparation and Consolidation; The District Programme Coordinator will ensure estimation of anticipated demand for unskilled manual work in the district: The assessment of need for asset creation through Mahatma Gandhi NREGA is to be undertaken at the community level, by the Gram Panchayat through participatory processes_ The outputs of these processes need to be consolidated at the Gram Panchayat level and presented before the Gram Sabha for approval. 13 The plan must assign priorities to the various identified works. ii. The sub steps in this are: a Estimation of Demand b_ Identification of Needs C Identification of Resource Envelope d_ Preparation of Draft Development Plan Approval by the Gram Sabhal Ward Sabha iii. The Role of the Gram Panchayat; The Gram Panchayat is to submit the annual plan approved by the Gram Sabha to the Programme Officer: iv. The Role of the Programme Officer: The Programme Officer is to scrutinise the annual plans on the parameters of whether the works fall under the list of permissible works, and whether the overall wage material ratio is maintained. The Programme Officer then

6 · 2 Focus on vulnerable households There should be special focus on vulnerable households while preparing estimates for anticipated demand, list of works on individual land, and list of other works that provide direct individual

6 · 3 Gram Panchayats as custodian of shelf of works The Gram Panchayat is the custodian of the shelf of projects and all PIAs working in the Gram Panchayat should report their plans to the Gram Panchayat; which should duly incorporate those in the annual plan of Mahatma Gandhi NREGA after the approval of the Gram Sabha/Ward Sabha. For the works implemented by PIAs other than Gram Panchayat, approval may be obtained from the Block/ Intermediate/District Panchayat; depending 0n the level of engagement. Gram Panchayat level shelf of projects should be at least two times the anticipated demand for employment:

6 · 4 Expected outcomes The expected outcomes from executing each work will mandatorily be part of the estimate.

6 · 5 Entry of Works into MIS and implementation of works as per decided priority Works will be entered on the MIS as per the order of priority decided in the Gram Panchayat/ Intermediate Panchayat/ District Panchayat: The works will be implemented in accordance with the priority decided by the Gram Panchayatl Intermediate Panchayatl District Panchayat:

6 · 6 Convergence Convergence at both the intra-departmental and inter-departmental level should be encouraged as per the State Convergence Plan. Works proposed after the Gram Sabha approval, based on the Convergence Plan may be included as Supplementary Work Plan at a later stage and the same needs to be approved at the Gram Panchayat/ Intermediate Panchayat/ District Panchayat level, before being included in the Shelf of Projects The SEGF may receive funds channelized by the converging departments as listed out in the State Convergence Plan and allocate the same to the PIA, as applicable. 6.6.1 Integrated planning, by converging the resources available under five rural development schemes - Mahatma Gandhi NREGA, National Rural Livelihood Mission, Indira Awaas Yojana, National Social Assistance Programme, and the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana is encouraged. 6.6.2 The synergy of Deen Dayal Upadhaya NRLM (DAY-NRLM) and Mahatma Gandhi NREGA programmes should be utilised by facilitating the farmers identified under Mahila Kisan_ Sashaktikaran Pariyojna (MKSP) and other sustainable agriculture based interventions taken up under DA Y-NRLM to create and access these assets under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA. There are 33.06 lakh women farmers identified under MKSP. The majority of them are in Andhra Pradesh (1301107) , Telangana (1022291), Kerala (339288), Bihar (135012), West Bengal (60790), Odisha (38620), Rajasthan (59824), Gujarat (24587), Karnataka (19000), Assam (14549), Maharashtra (108815), Chhattisgarh (26725), Jharkhand (66614), Madhya Pradesh (37166) etc and more and more women farmers are being added under the MKSP programme on continuous basis. A concerted effort to facilitate these households (HHs, to access the following assets under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA_ 1. Farm Ponds, dug ` wells and other water harvesting structures 2 Vermil NADEP compost pits. 3. Cattle sheds, Goat sheds, Poultry sheds, pig sty. The states need to identify the beneficiaries, map the existing Job card holder families, issue new Job Card to households that do not have JC but are willing to work under MGNREGS, facilitate

6 · 7 Suggested timelines for planning

6 · 8 Violations of any of the above provisions will be considered as an offence under the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA, thereby attracting the provisions of Section 25 of the Act.

7 · Entitlement V- Right to obtain work within a radius of 5 km

7 · 1 Work Execution under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA The mandate of the Act is to provide not less than one hundred days of unskilled manual work as guaranteed employment in a financial year to every household in rural areas as per demand, resulting in creation of productive assets of prescribed quality and durability, to strengthen the livelihood resource base of the pOOI. To strengthen the livelihood resource base of the pOOr; the focus of the scheme is on different kinds of works as elaborated in Para 4 of Schedule 1, Mahatma Gandhi NREGA.

7 · 1.1 Implementing Agencies As per the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA, *implementing agency' includes any department of the Central Government or State Government, Zila Parishad, Panchayat at intermediate level, Gram Panchayat or any Iocal authority or Government undertaking Or non-governmental organization authorized by the Central Government or the State Government to undertake the implementation of any work taken up under a scheme. User Associations recognised by the State Government may also be Implementing Agencies. At least fifty percent of the works in terms of cost shall be allotted to GPs for implementation:

7 · 1.2 Wage Material Ratio As per Para 20 of schedule-1, Mahatma Gandhi NREGA, 'For all works taken up by the Gram Panchayats and other implementing agencies, the cost of material component including the wages of the skilled and semi-skilled workers shall not exceed forty percent at the District level.

7 · 1.3 Use of Machines Para 22 of Schedule-1, Mahatma Gandhi NREGA, lays down that As far as practicable, works executed by the programme implementing agencies shall be performed by using manual labour and no labour displacing machines shall be used" . However; there may be activities in executing works which cannot be carried out by manual labour, where use of machine may become essential for maintaining the quality and durability of works suggested list of machines which can be used under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA is shown below:

7 · 1.4 Outcome Orientation of Works Para 13 (c) of Schedule-I, Mahatma Gandhi NREGA, provides that each work proposed to be taken up under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA shall have summary of the estimate, design and technical note that indicate the expected outcomes from implementing the work:

7 · 1.5 Estimates/Design Preparation and Technical Vetting by Superior Authorities It should be ensured that the technical person authorised to prepare estimates and design of the works to be executed under MGNREGS are competent and possess the requisite knowledge for same_ In case the technical expertise is not available in house, the technical resources from concerned line department may be sought: Existing technical staff under MGNREGS may be trained for preparation of such estimates by the experts in concerned line departments. It should be ensured that no technical sanction is issued without mentioning the estimated period of completion and expected outcomes in it. A_ protocol for sanctioning of scheme based on technicalities involved and cost of the project/ work should be notified by the states to ensure proper estimation and uniformity. Further, vetting_of estimate_designs_by superior_technical authorityL_personnel_shall be_mandatory_and_preferably the concerned superior_personnel_should_be_from concerned line_agency_that_generally executes such works:

7 · 1.6 Production of building materials For many works that are permitted under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA, bricks, tiles, paver blocks, etc are used. The production of such building materials can provide employment to unskilled labour: The production of building material required in execution of Mahatma Gandhi NREGA works has been permitted as follows; such production will not be a standalone' activity i.e. building material production under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA shall be undertaken to be used for works under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA and is not to be sold in the open market

7 · 1.7 Procurement of Materials under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA The procedure for making public procurement must conform to the following: a. The specifications in terms of quality, type etc as also the quantity of goods and services (semi ~skilled and skilled labour; excluding the services of mate) to be procured are clearly spelt out keeping in view the specific needs, to meet the basic needs of the implementing agencies, without including superfluous and non-essential features. b Offers should be invited following a fair, transparent and prescribed procedure; The PIA should be satisfied that the selected offer adequately meets the requirements in all respects; d. The PIA should satisfy itself that the price of the selected offer is reasonable and consistent with the quality required; e. At each stage of procurement; the concerned PIA must place on record, in precise terms, the considerations which were taken into account while taking the procurement decision:

7 · 2 Types of Works

7 · 2.1 Restructuring of list of permissible works The Schedule 1 provides list of permissible works categorised into 4 parts. Based on the various works mentioned in the Schedule, the Management Information System (MIS_ has listed 155 works that may be taken up under the Programme. This list has duplicate names in different categories and incomplete description of work names which often lead to confusions. To do away with such confusions, a restructuring of the work list has been done in the MIS of the Programme wherein the focus is on listing works on basis of the specific structure that is to be the outcome Or on which the work/ task is to be carried out with further attributes like ownership and intended action to complete the work and type of activity as wellas outcome and which can be further qualified based on material, technology used, purpose etc. The idea is to provide structured entry of details for ensuring complete description of work being taken up. Each work has maximum five description fields e.g Work Name (mandatory), beneficiary i.e. individuallcommunity O groups (mandatory), possible actions like construction Or renovation Or lining etc (Mandatory) and two more fields of qualifiers _ which may describe the technology, material used, purpose O the aspects describing the type of structure for required for complete description of the work The table of the restructured works is being given below:

12 · Culvert

15 · Dug wells

17 · Trees

18 · Gully Plug

19 · Nursery Mini Percolation 20 tank

21 · Pond

22 · Recharge Pits_

23 · Road

27 · Soak Pit

28 · Spur

29 · Terrace

30 · Toilets

35 · Embankment Village /Rural 36 Haat Cyclone 37 Shelter 38 Play field Compound walls for government 39 run schools Production of Building 40 Material Storm Water drain for coastal 41 protection Stabilization 42 Pond Production of building material 43

7 · 2.2 Non- permissible Works Works which are non-tangible, not measurable and repetitive in nature shall not be taken up under MGNREGS.

7 · 3 Works Focusing on Agriculture and Allied Activities The Sub Para (2) of Paragraph 4 of Schedule 1, Mahatma Gandhi NREGA, lays - down that; *Provided that the District Programme Coordinator shall ensure that at least 60% of the works to be taken up in district in terms of cost, shall be for creation of productive assets directly linked to agriculture and allied activities through development of land, water and trees" With the thrust on development of livelihoods, works prioritised in the convergent planning process for individual beneficiaries will be given priority.

7 · 4 Natural Resource Management Works Mission Water Conservation (MWC) 7.4.1 convergence Framework for scientific planning and execution of water management works with the use of latest technology has been mandated in consultation with and agreement of the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation and the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. The focus will be on 2264 Blocks identified under MWC.

7 · 4.2

7 · 4.6

7 · 4.7

7 · 4.9

7 · 5. Works requiring special focus 7.5.1 During 2018-19, a large number of farm ponds and Vermi NADEP composting pits should be targeted to be constructed across the country. Reexcavation/ renovation of farm ponds cannot be undertaken on private lands since this is not a permissible activity under MGNREGA, 2005.

7 · .2 Construction of Aanganwadi Centres (AWC) AWC may be taken up under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA using appropriate labour intensive and cost-effective technologies and local building materials. Expenditure up to Rs 5.00 lakh under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA is allowed and the balance cost as per the state specific estimate may be mobilised from the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) schemes of the Ministry of Women and Child Development;, GoL and other schemes. AWC building should be of at least 600 sqft plinth area and the design should be in line with the guidelines of the Ministry of Women and Child Development. 7..3 Construction of Individual Household Latrines (IHHLs) under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA: In order to give impetus to the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) to achieve clean India by 2019, the scheme of IHHL construction under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA shall focus o construction of IHHLs in Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna Grameen (PMAY-G) houses, wherever required. The unit cost of IHHL under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA will be Rs.12, 000/- and design of IHHL will be as in SBM (G) It should be ensured, however; that in cases, where Mahatma Gandhi NREGA funds are being used for the construction of IHHLS, funding under SBM (G) is not used, to avoid duplication. Wherever toilets have been constructed under SBM or by the beneficiary, IHHL under MGNREGS for PMAY (G) houses cannot be provided. Any beneficiary in Mission Antyodaya Gram Panchayat whose name figures in the SBM survey list and who has not been able to get a toilet on account of fund constraint, can be provided IHHL under MGNREGS, on priority. State governments should provide list of such beneficiaries for coverage under MGNREGS at the Gram Panchayat level. In all other Gram Panchayats MGNREGS funds would be utilized only for PMA Y-G beneficiaries, wherever required: No defunct toilets shall be taken up for construction of HHHLs under_Mahatma Gandhi NREGA

7 · 5.4 Construction of School toilets and Anganwadi toilets: Moreover School toilet units and Anganwadi toilets_ either_ independently or in convergence with schemes of other Government _Departments_as_per_prescribed_norms_can _be_taken _Up as_per_requirements_in villages areas_after_approval of_Gram Sabha

7 · 5.5 Construction of Houses, sanctioned under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Grameen (PMAY-G) or such other State or Central Government scheme under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA: The total number of unskilled person days required for construction of a house of at least 20 sqm plinth area is 95-person days for North East, Hilly region and IAP districts, and 90-person days for other areas. This can be paid under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA, over and above the unit cost fixed for PMAY-G/ other housing scheme. The building material produced under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA for construction of houses may be availed free of cost; by the beneficiaries. It is important to highlight that the benefits from MGNREGS in PMA Y-G or State housing schemes as per Schedule-I, para 4 (1) II: (iv) should be extended only for households in Paragraph 5.

7 · 5.6 Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY) was launched in year 2009-10 for the development of villages having higher ratio (over 50% , of people belonging to Scheduled Caste, through convergence of Central and State schemes, and allocating funds on village to village basis. It was approved for implementation in 1000 villages in five States, namely, Rajasthan; Tamil Nadu, Assam, Himachal Pradesh and Bihar. Concerned States are advised

7 · 6 Afforestation, Tree Plantation and Horticulture 7.6.1 Afforestation, tree plantation and horticulture activities can be taken up under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA on common, forest and private lands (of households listed in para 5 of schedule - I) viz.

7 · 6.4

7 · 6.5

7 · 6.8

7 · 6.9

7 · 6.11 Development of pasture lands: For development of pasture lands under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA and for drought proofing, plantation of fodder trees or horticulture plants Or a mix and perennial grasses of_pines_stylo__etc in consultation with the concerned technical Departments, suitable for the local soil and climate, with participation of Gram Sabha/Ward Sabha and SHGs is advised. For better germination of seeds, sowing in pellet (mixed with dung & black soil) after soil & moisture conservation works is also advised

7 · 6.12 Plantation of tree borne oilseeds: To promote livelihood activities of the vulnerable sections, plantation of 11 major tree borne oilseeds (TBOs) is advised.

7 · 6.13 Plantation of Tasar Host plants: To promote Tasar based livelihoods activities with the vulnerable communities, plantation of Tasar host plants like Arjuna and Asana is advised. This plantation may be taken up in the areas where Tasar based livelihoods initiatives have been taken up under Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP) by the State Rural Livelihoods Missions_

7 · 6.13 Roadside Plantation along PMGSY roads and other roads: Roadside Tree Plantations under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA are to be taken up along PMGSY roads, on priority. Under such works, vulnerable household can be allocated up to 200 trees with appropriate maintenance period (based on species planted). Beyond the maintenance period the same household is to be provided rights to enjoy the usufruct benefits accruing from the allocated trees. Monthly payments are based on survival of plants and accomplishment of notified tasks. A_ road which is completed should be taken up for roadside tree plantation. While conducting roadside tree plantation under MGNREGS, for the sake of better road safety, the first and second row of plants should be planted with small to medium sized trees and the third row with tall and shade bearing trees The distance for the first IOw of trees should be 0.5 m away from the toe of the embankment: The spacing between plant to plant for first and second row should be 4 to 6 m. and from row to row should be minimum 3 m_ The number of planted rows depends on the availability of land in the Right-of-Way. If enough space is not available for three O more rows then two rows with first rOw (small and medium trees) and last row (tall and shade bearing trees) should be considered: In rural roads

7 · 6.14 Integration of MIS of PMGSY (OMMAS Software) with NREGASoft has been completed for mapping of PMGSY roads with Roadside tree plantation. This report (R.6.25 of NREGASoft) may be utilised for planning, implementation and monitoring of plantations along PMGSY roads.

7 · 6.15 Month wise Schedule of Activities for Tree Plantation

7 · 6.16 Convergence activities relating to Afforestation, Plantation and Horticulture:

7 · 7 Rural Infrastructure

7 · 8 Promotion of Aquaculture For promotion of aquaculture MGNREGS ponds can be adopted for synergizing their use in fisheries development in the Blue Revolution: It is proposed to use MGNREGS ponds both for fish seed rearing and table fish production depending on the size and depth of the pond, water holding capacity, water retention period etc_ Following parameters need to be followed for taking up these kinds of works

7 · 9 Solid Waste Management (SWM) under MGNREGS Para 4 (1) IV (i) of Schedule I of the MGNREG Act provides for rural sanitation works under Rural Infrastructure category, wherein solid and liquid waste management works (SLWM) may be undertaken amongst other listed works_ Accordingly, works like construction of Individual Household Latrines (IHHLs), soak pits, village drains for disposal of grey water, stabilization ponds (3/ 5 ponds system) for treatment of grey water and construction of infrastructures for composting may be undertaken under MGNREGS as standalone works. For comprehensive management of solid waste, it is advised that: 1_ SWM works should be economically viable and sustainable: ii. They- should be user friendly and should not have any detrimental effects upon human health or to the environment.

7 · 10 Continuous availability of works It should be ensured that works are available on continuous basis to the wage seekers and there is emphasis on completion of ongoing and incomplete works_ Without undermining the entitlement of wage seekers, the GP should first allocate works that are incomplete and have the required labour employment potential before opening new works. In order to facilitate States/UTs to expedite the process of works completion an enabling circular was issues on 09.02.18 which can be referred to.

7 · 11.3 Maintenance: Assets after creation will remain durable and strengthen the livelihood resource base of the rural poor oly when they are maintained as per their schedule prepared for the purpose. Maintenance of rural public assets created under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA is a permitted activity. In case, funds are to be used to rehabilitate assets created from schemes other than MGNREGA, such as one-time rehabilitation/ renovation of canals/ drains/ Water harvesting structures, etc. the full details of previous work done along with date, copy of estimate and measurement book should be placed as part of the work record before administrative approval is granted. The maintenance work will be considered as separate work with pre - measurement and post-measurement, following all the norms for new work_

7 · 11.4 Measurement of works: All measurements of work done, shall be recorded in the measurement book (MB) duly authorized and issued by competent authority. The relevant entries are to be entered in NREGASoft to determine the valuation of work done. All payments shall be made oly after measuring the value of work done; and after check measurement by the Junior Engineerlauthorised technical personnel, in the manner as prescribed by the State Government:

7 · 11.5 Provision of Core Staff for Ensuring Quality of Works under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA:

7 · 11.5.1In view of the requirements of planning preparation of estimates, giving of mark - outs on the ground and taking of measurement of the work done, there shall be core staff in place. The State Government shall ensure that the following core staff are in place:

7 · 12 Convergence with National Rural Livelihood Mission under the Cluster Facilitation Team Strategy

7 · 12.1 Objective: This project is to synergize the functioning of Mahatma Gandhi NREGA and DAY-National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM) to substantially enhance the quality of assets being created in the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA with the assistance of Civil Society Organisations/Community Based Organisations and thereby address the issue of rural livelihoods with sharper focus.

7 · 12.2 Selection of Blocks: Cluster Facilitation Teams (CFT) are to be placed in backward blocks selected by State Governments as per the following criteria; pOOr human development indicators, tribal areas, high population of SCs, pOOr connectivity or having active presence of Civil Society Organisation (CSO) or Community Based Organisation (CBO): State governments may undertake this project in backward blocks with prior approval of the Ministry.

7 · 123 Selection of Civil Society Organisation: State Government will select Civil Society Organisation or Community Based Organisation with demonstrated experience in Mahatma Gandhi NREGA to undertake this project in the selected backward blocks. Preference may be given to existing partners in Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) and

7 · 12.4 Composition and coverage: Each block should preferably be allotted to one Civil Society Organisation/Community Based Organisation. b_ The Civil Society Organisation/Community Based Organisation will place 3 Cluster Facilitation Teams in each block: All Gram Panchayats in selected blocks must be covered by Cluster Facilitation Teams. d. Each Cluster Facilitation Team will consist of at least three members and will cover roughly oe third of population of the block measured in terms of number of Gram Panchayats. Each Cluster Facilitation Team will have expertise in soil and moisture conservation, agriculture and allied/livelihood activities, community mobilisation and expertise in preparing estimates, doing measurements and assessing quality of assets.

7 · 125 Activities: The Cluster Facilitation Team will function like a technical secretariat to the Gram Panchayat and interface with community institutions. The Cluster Facilitation Team will mobilize the community, prepare plans and estimates for the Gram Panchayat and provide technical support for worksite management but the actual execution of work will remain with Mahatma Gandhi NREGA personnel. The detailed standard operating procedure on the expected activities of the Cluster Facilitation Team stands as is.

7 · 12.6 Deliverables: The Cluster Facilitation Team has four deliverables over three-year period; 1. Preparation of an integrated watershed plan for the whole Gram Panchayat through community participation: The State Government should incorporate the same in the shelf of projects of Mahatma Gandhi NREGA following the due process laid in the Act: ii. Capacity Building of all Mahatma Gandhi NREGA and DAY-NRLM functionaries, Mahatma Gandhi NREGA workers and representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions on their role and rights in Mahatma Gandhi NREGA, through appropriate training programmes carried out with the support of State Government iii. Expenditure on NRM work shall be taken up to 65%. iv. Good Governance initiatives shall be ensured: Work completion rate should be improved

7 · 12.7 Role of DAY-NRLM: DAY-NRLM will facilitate in operationalizing this convergence through the State Rural Livelihood Missions and the Civil Society Organisations already working under Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP) NRLM may support Cluster Facilitation Teams to facilitate the following elements of convergence with Mahatma Gandhi NREGA and Self-Help Groups (SHG) / producer groups under DAY-NRLM: 1. Discussion of implementation of Mahatma Gandhi NREGA in SHG weekly meetings. ii. Associate SHGs / producer groups in the planning process and ensure their participation in the Gram Sabha. iii. Identify members of SHGs without Job Cards and facilitate their applications for job cards and Mahatma Gandhi NREGA work if desired. iv. Encourage SHGs to file applications for demand for work

7 · 12.8 Project period and funding: i. The financial support provided by Ministry will be Rs 28 lakhs per year per block for a three-year period. The cost break up is as follows; remuneration Rs.21.6 lakh, other expenses such as travel Rs. 4.3 lakhs and miscellaneous Rs. 2.1 lakh: The internal allocation of this budget within budget heads will be left to the Civil Society Organisation/Community Based Organisation, subject to the proviso that at least 9 people are employed by the Civil Society Organisation/Community Based Organisation in the block ii. The funds would be released in two tranches per year. Initial 50% of the project cost will be released by the Ministry to the States in April on submission of Provisional Utilisation Certificate (UC), year-wise and date-wise operationalisation of CFT and progress report on execution of deliverables Funds for the remaining period would be released on receipt of UC for the current year with 60% of utilisation of funds released, year-wise and date - wise operationalisation of CFT and progress report on execution of deliverables iii. AlL sanction orders of funds received and transferred to Civil Society Organisations by the State Government are to be publicly disclosed on a separate Cluster Facilitation Team Project tab on the state Mahatma Gandhi NREGA website.

7 · 12.9 Monitoring Structure: 1_ Civil Society Organisation/Community Based Organisation along with Programme Officer will prepare an Annual Action Plan for each block for each year. The same is to be submitted to the State Government and the Ministry at the beginning of the financial year ii. Block Co-ordination Committees, District level steering committees and State level steering committees are to be formed with representatives from CSOs and concerned officials. iii. Ministry will review the project o a quarterly basis based on Annual Action Plan and project deliverables

8 · Entitlement VI- Right to worksite facilities

8 · 1. Workers are entitled to the following facilities at Mahatma Gandhi NREGA worksite: 1_ Medical aid ji. Drinking water iii. Shade iv_ Creche: If children below the age of five years are present at the worksite, person shall be engaged on the work to look after them. 8.2 Para 25 to 28 of the Schedule II state the entitlements of the workers in case of injuries, accidents and death: 1_ Para 25, Schedule II- If any personal injury is caused to any person employed under the Scheme by accident arising out of and in the course of his employment; he shall be entitled to free of charge, such medical treatment aS is required 2_ Para 26, Schedule II, Where hospitalization of the injured worker is necessary, that State Government shall arrange for such hospitalization including accommodation, treatment; medicines and payment of daily allowance not less than half of the wage rate required to be paid had the injured been engaged in the work 3 Para 27 , Schedule II, 'If a person employed under a Scheme dies or becomes permanently disabled by accident arising out of and in the course of employment, he shall be paid by the implementing agency an ex gratia payment aS per entitlements under the Aam Aadmi BimaYojana or aS may be notified by the Central Government, and the amount shall be paid_ to the legal heirs of the deceased or the disabled, as the case may be: Para 28, Schedule II; 'If" any personal injury is caused by accident to child accompanying person who is employed under a Scheme, such person shall be entitled to, free of charge, such medical treatment for the child as may be specified in Scheme and in case of death or disablement; through an ex gratia payment as may be determined by the State Government.

9 · Entitlement VII and VIII- Right to notified wage rate and right to receive wages within 15 days

3 · (2) of Mahatma Gandhi NREGA provides that the disbursement of daily wages shall be made on a weekly basis, or in any case not later than a fortnight after the date on which such work is done. All delay in payment of wages beyond 15 days after closure of muster roll shall attract & penalty as per Para 29 of Schedule II of the Act.

9 · 1 Central Government will follow Section 6 (1) of the Act and notify wage rates for each financial year. States may notify a higher wage rate and pay the difference in amount from funds made available at their level. 9.2 Accounts of Mahatma Gandhi NREGA wage earners may be opened in post office/bank, as per the convenience of workers and wages shall be credited into the post office/bank account as the case may be. 9.3 No cash payment of wages shall be made unless specifically allowed by the Government of India: 9.4 Wherever functioning Banking/Business Correspondents (BC) are deployed by Banks, wage disbursement should be made by the banking network operated by these BCs. 9.5 The State Government shall link the wages with the quantity of work done. It shall be paid according to the rural schedule of rates fixed after time and motion studies for different types of work and different seasons, and revised periodically. A separate Schedule of rates shall be finalised for women, the elderly, people with disabilities and people with debilitating ailments, SO as to improve their participation through productive work: 9.6 The schedule of rates of wages for various unskilled labourers shall be fixed so that an adult person who has worked for eight hours, including an hour of rest, will earn a wage equal to the stipulated wage rate. The working hours of an adult worker shall be flexible, but shall not spread over more than twelve hours on any day. Services of the semi-skilled workers other than mates and skilled workers may be procured by the Project Implementing Agencies by following transparent processes Wages payable to such workers will also be decided by the Project Implementing Agencies 9.7 Enabling Structures: Payment Systems Under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA: E-FMS and Ne-FMS, through PFMS. 9.7.1 Electronic Fund Management System (e-FMS): e-FMS provides a platform for making e-payments to Mahatma Gandhi NREGA workers, staff and vendors wages, material and administrative expenses) using the payment network of financial Institutions e.g NEFT/ RTGS/ Electronic Cash Transfer (ECS)Aadhaar Based Payment System (APBS) NACH Sanchaya Post: This reduces delay in payments.

9 · 7.2 Public Fund Management System (PFMS): All Mahatma Gandhi NREGA e-payment (through Fund Transfer Orders) are being routed through PFMS. 9.7.2.1 Registration of Accounts of Implementing agencies on PFMS Registration of Implementing agencies accounts on PFMS under correct scheme code is mandatory for the purpose of release of funds to State/UTs There are two scheme codes for MGNREGS on PFMS namely MGNREGA-Central Share- 9219 MGNREGA- State Component-9178. The National Electronic Fund Management account (Ne-FMS) needs to be registered under MGNREGA-CS-9219 and e-FMS account; SEGF account; Social Audit Unit account and accounts below the level of State needs to be registered under MGNREGA- State Component-9178. The accounts registered are approved by one level above the level at which they are registered. The Gram Panchayat accounts registered on PFMS by G.P. login will be approved by Block; Block account registered on PFMS by Block login will be approved by District and so on. Mapping of accounts: The request for mapping of accounts at registration level needs to be sent along with following documents to one level higher: Letter from the Registration level mentioning the details of the account and purposelusage of the account: Screen shot of the accounts registered on PFMS specifying the details of the Unique Agency Code. Cancelled cheque /Pass book copy or Bank letter mentioning the details of the accounts to be approved on PFMS. At the time of beginning of PFMS, accounts were registered on PFMS (earlier known as CPSMS) either with incomplete details, wrong details or under wrong scheme codes. Such accounts need to be un-mapped and only relevant accounts under correct scheme codes need to be registered. Un-mapping of accounts: The un-mapping request should be emailed to the Ministry along with formal request letter and details of accounts in the following excel format: State Level Scheme Agency Unique Bank Account name Name Code Name Number

9 · 7.3 National Electronic Fund Management System (Ne-FMS): With view to further streamlining the fund flow system and to enable the States to deliver entitlements in line with the objectives of the Act, without leading to parking of funds, Ne-FMS has been introduced in 24 States and 1 UT: It will be up scaled in phases The significant features of the Ne-FMS are as follows: Wage Component: The wage component of Mahatma Gandhi NREGA, which is entirely the responsibility of the Central Government, will be operated as a central sector scheme.

10 · Entitlement IX: Right to time bound redress of grievances, right to conduct concurrent Social Audits and Social Audits of all Mahatma Gandhi NREGA expenditure

10 · 1 Setting up of an Independent Social Audit Unit: 10.1.1 State Governments have to identify andlor establish independent Social Audit Units (SAU), to facilitate Gram Sabha/ Ward Sabha in conducting social audits of works taken up under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA within the Gram Panchayat. To this effect, State Governments are mandated to set up independent societies tasked with the exclusive responsibility of conducting social audits under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA: 10.1.2 Every Independent Social Audit Unit shall be headed by a Governing Body which will be responsible for overseeing the performance of the Unit on periodic basis and provide advice and direction to the Unit as and when needed. The following shall be the minimum composition of the Governing Body: Principal Accountant General, C&AG b_ Principal Secretary, Department of Rural Development/Panchayati Raj Director; Social Audit Unit d. 3 representatives from Civil Society Organisations, Academic and Training Institutions, working in the State or outside, having long standing experience in working with issues related to transparency and public accountability: Other special invitees from Departments that are undertaking social audits in their programmes_ It shall be ensured that the Principal Secretary, Department of Rural Development/Panchayati Raj does not chair the Governing Body to ensure independence of the Social Audit Unit from the implementing agency. 10.1.3 Special Social Audit: In areas where social audits have not been conducted in the manner prescribed by the Rules due to social audit teams facing violence, non-cooperation, intimidation from officials/non-officials and the same is communicated to the Ministry in

19 · Odisha 20 Punjab 21 Rajasthan 22 Sikkim 23 Tamil Nadu 24 Telangana 25 Tripura 26 Uttar Pradesh 27 Uttarakhand 28 West Bengal Total

6 · 6 1 15 2

10 · 1.6 Selection: The Social Audit Resource Persons at the State and District Level shall be drawn from people with experience in the conduct of social audits and have been working in the social sector. The following committee will be notified for selecting the final candidates from a shortlist of potential candidates prepared by the Social Audit Unit: a_ Chief Secretary or her/his nominee. b_ Principal Secretary of the Department implementing Mahatma Gandhi NREGA Director; Social Audit Unit (Member-Convenor) d. Representative of the Ministry not below the rank of Director/Deputy Secretary. Representative of a Civil Society Organization having experience of working for the rights and entitlements of rural people. States may consider nominating the Civil Society Organisation representative in their Ombudsman Selection Committee to participate in the same_ f. BRP: The state Social Audit Unit, if required, may engage Block Resources Persons by framing guidelines for the same. The guidelines may be uploaded in the public domain by the SAU. g 10.1.7 Trainings The 30-day Certificate Course on Social Accountability and Social Audits is a mandatory requisite for all State and District level resource persons_ Lead Course Coordinators certified by TISS shall conduct the trainings in SIRDs. All states must communicate to the Ministry about the completion of their training batches with details of resource persons trained in the capacity building initiative. 10.1.8 Payments to Social Audit Unit Resource Persons: State Social Audit Units will be authorized to make payments directly into the back accounts of its Resource Persons at the State, District, Block and Village Level. Payments to Social Audit Unit Resource Persons at any level, shall not be dependent on gaining approvals from representatives of the implementing agencies. 10.1.9 Calendar: The Social Audit Unit is required to frame an annual calendar at the beginning of the year to indicate the roll out of social audits in at least 50% of the Gram Panchayats in consonance with the rules in a year. The Social Audit Calendar once formed is to be complied with strictly, and communicated to all District Programme Coordinators in advance. The Calendar should be pro-actively disclosed in the public domain:

10 · 1.10 Auditing Standards The Ministry has introduced Auditing Standards, based on recommendations of the C&AG and Joint Task Force for Social Audits, in order to strengthen the process of social audits and ensure the compliance of Audit of Scheme Rules, 2011. The Ministry has advised all states UTs to adopt the Auditing Standards for the functioning of social audit units and conducting Social Audits. 10.1.11 Deployment of Village Social Audit Resource Persons: Village Social Audit Resource Persons deployed for facilitating social audit in Panchayat shall not be residents of the same Panchayat: It is mandatory for the state/ UTs to engage community cadre of village social auditors drawn from women members of SHG for an effective community accountability framework These village social auditors will be imparted training for 4 days on basis of specific manual developed by MoRD with assistance from TISS. 10.1.12 Provision of Records: The Programme Officer shall ensure that all the required information and records of implementing agencies as detailed below are properly collated in the requisite formats and provided along with photocopies to the Social Audit Unit for facilitating conduct of social audit at least fifteen days in advance of the scheduled date of meeting of the Gram Sabha/Ward Sabha conducting the Social Audit: The following records are mandatorily to be Shared: the 7 Registers; Voucher Folder; Cash Book and Ledger; Stock register; Bank Reconciliation Statement Folder; Administrative sanction; Work Estimate, Technical sanction; Work commencement order; Measurement Book; Wage List; Work Completion Certificate; Audit Report; Labour Budget (Refer: Annexure 2 regarding Access and A vailability of Records in Auditing Standards for Social Audits_ 10.1.13 Any request for copies of Mahatma Gandhi NREGA related documents has to be provided within 3 days and no information shall be withheld: 10.1.14 Verification: The resource persons deployed by the Social Audit Unit to facilitate the Gram Sabha/ Ward Sabha in conducting social audits are required to conduct a 100% verification of entries made against all job card holders of the Gram Panchayat and Mahatma Gandhi NREGA worksites. 10.1.15 Gram Sabha Ward Sabha: A Gram Sabha/Ward Sabha must be convened to discuss the findings of the social audit verification exercise and also to review the compliance on transparency and accountability, fulfilment of the rights and entitlements of labourers and proper utilization of funds 10.1.16 Social Audit Reports: Social Audit Reports must be prepared in the local language and displayed on the notice board of the Gram Panchayat: Social Audit Reports must be hosted in the public domain by the Social Audit Unit within 48 hours of the Social Audit being completed. State Social Audit Units are instructed t0 use the National MIS on Social Audit developed by National Informatics Centre to download reports required for verification during social audits and enter findings of the same_ The Social Audit Unit shall ensure that Social Audit Gram Sabha reports are uploaded on the MIS within 2 days of the Gram Sabha. 10.1.17 Registration of grievances arising out of social audits: For every violation of the right of an Mahatma Gandhi NREGA worker identified in the social audit process, the Social Audit Unit should file written grievance to be submitted to the Programme Officer and the Ombudsman during the Gram Sabha/Ward Sabha, while ensuring that the complainant is give a dated receipt. For every instance of financial irregularity found during a social audit; the Social Audit Unit must file a written complaint to the District Programme Coordinator for registration of a FIR. For every instance of a violation of record maintenance protocol and transparency norms identified the Social Audit Unit should file a written complaint with the Programme Officer/District Programme Coordinator and get a dated receipt for the same.

10 · 1.18 Follow up: The Implementing Agency is responsible for taking follow up action on the findings of the social audits in a time bound manner. 10.1.19 Social Audit Reports once approved by the Gram Sabha/Ward Sabha are required to be submitted to the District Programme Coordinator and the Social Audit Unit of the State within 24 hours of the completion of the Social Audit Gram Sabha/Ward Sabha. 10.1.20 Within a month of the Gram Sabha/Ward Sabha, the Programme Officer should submit the Action Taken Report (ATR) to the Social Audit Unit: 15 days before the subsequent social audit, the resource person facilitating the social audit should get a copy of the ATR from the implementing agency as well as report from the resource person who conducted the audit the previous time. During field visits, the Social Audit Unit should verify whether action as specified in the ATR has indeed been taken: At the start of the Social Audit Gram Sabha/Ward Sabha, the ATR of the previous report and findings from field verification should first be presented before the social audit report of the current social audit. 10.1.21 The Additional Chief Secretaryl Principal Secretaryl Secretary, Department of Rural Development/ Panchayati Raj shall conduct monthly review of Social Audit wherein irregularities identified in the social audit reports and status of progress 0 action taken by the implementing agencies on redressing the same shall be reviewed 10.1.22 Reporting: State Social Audits Units are required to submit Quarterly Reports to the Principal Accountant Generals of the States in a prescribed format that has to be adhered strictly. The format includes information on the Status of Social Audit Unit and its functionaries, the Expenditure incurred by the Social Audit Unit in the reporting quarter and the status of the schedule and conduct of the social audits as per Calendar in the reporting quarter:

10 · 2 Concurrent Social Audits Concurrent social audit shall be done for all works every month: For this purpose, self-help groups, village social auditors, Village Monitoring Committees( VMC) and other village level organisations (VO) will have the right to inspect all records of works done and expenditure made in the Gram Panchayat on a fixed day of the week. Copies of records, where needed, will be provided by the Programme Officer at a nominal cost. Every Gram Sabha will select a Village Monitoring Committee (VMC) consisting of 5 Mahatma Gandhi NREGA workers_ The VMC shall consist of women workers under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA; workers from SCIST households, and those households who are automatically included/report deprivation as per the Socio Economic Caste Census. Where Self-Help group women meet the criteria of eligibility of VMCs, as detailed above, they may be deemed VMCs for the Gram Panchayat after being duly approved by the Gram Sabha. VMC may visit each active worksite once a month Members of the VMC will be paid day' s wage, upto one day' s wage for every week; to carry out the task of inspection. The VMC shall conduct a concurrent social audit of all active works of the Gram Panchayat and will monitor whether due norms are being complied with at the worksite in terms of processes, and records to be maintained. They will also monitor whether worker entitlements are being provided as per the Act: The VMC shall sign its report and submit the same to the Programme Officer: 10.3 Ombudsperson Section 30 of Schedule [ of the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA mandates that there shall be an Ombudsperson for each District for receiving grievances, enquiring into and passing awards as per Guidelines. Central Government norms for process of appointment; application, tenure and termination; autonomy; remuneration; powers and responsibilities; procedure for redress of

10 · 4 Grievance Redressal As per Section 19 of MGNREG Act, the State Governments shall, by rules, determine appropriate grievance redressal mechanisms which allows a workerlcitizen to lodge complaint and trace the subsequent response. The time lines for redressal of grievances should be consistent with the provisions of -Public Service Delivery Act" of the State, if any. Such a system should also create awareness among the wage seekers regarding their entitlements, processes and the redressal system through Public Information Campaigns like Rozgar Diwas Multiple modes should be enabled for the complainant to register a complaint and include written complaints as well as those through telephone help lines. Complaints should be entered in the complaint register (one of the 7 Registers)works and disposed within the statutory time limit. The complainants must also be informed of the action taken in writing:

10 · 5 Vigilance All States are mandated to make an arrangement for a three-tier vigilance mechanism to proactively detect irregularities in the implementation of the Act and to follow up detected irregularities and malfeasance, including those identified during social audit; and ensure that the guilty are punished and recoveries of misspent funds duly made. 10.5.1 The State Government must set up a State Vigilance Cell consisting of a Chief Vigilance Officer who shall be entrusted with the responsibility of receiving complaints, verifying complaints and conducting regular field visits. The State Vigilance Cell will be authorized to initiate recoveries of amounts through the Public Accountants Act in the case of officials and Revenue Recovery Act in the case of others; recommend initiation of disciplinary action against the officials found guilty and recommend to the District Vigilance Cell to file a FIR before the police in cases where criminal action needs to be initiated. The Chief Vigilance Officer shall be responsible for sending an annual report to State Employment Guarantee Council with suggestions on controlling irregularities and malfeasance. 10.5.2 A District Vigilance Cell must be set up and should be headed by district level officer and supported by an Engineer and an Auditor to carry out functions aS per directions of the State Vigilance Cell. The District Vigilance Cell shall perform inspections on its own and take follow up actions for recovery, disciplinary action and filing of criminal cases in respect of non-officials and officials whose disciplinary authority is at the district level. 10.5.3 Vigilance and Monitoring Committees (VMC) must be set up in each Gram Panchayat consisting of 5 persons, with adequate representation from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribe households, half of whom shall be women The members of the VMC may be identified from teachers, AW workers, SHG members, SA Resource Persons, user groups, youth clubs, Civil Society Organisations etc_ The VMC shall necessarily be appointed/nominated/elected by the Gram Sabha for period of at least 6 months. The functions of the VMC shall include visiting work sites; interacting with workers; verifying records; verifying onsite facilities; assessing quality of works; assessing cost; end to end reporting 0n work; qualitative assessment of nature of work. The VMC may check all works

10 · 6 Mandatory Pro-Active Disclosure State Governments are requested to ensure proactive disclosure of information and records to all common people and stakeholders using Janata Information System' consisting of disclosures at the worksites, through CIB, Gram Panchayat Notice Boards and the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA website. The Ministry has issued suggestive framework for Citizen Information Board which the states are required to adhere too for each work

10 · 7 Minimum Principles of Transparency and Accountability The Ministry has notified the minimum principles of transparency and accountability to be adhered to in all stages of implementation of the Act 10.7.1 In order to enable and empower citizens, individually and collectively, to effectively perform the function of monitoring the implementation of interventions rolled out in their name various conditions need to be fulfilled. These include widespread understanding of the entitlements, of the prescribed time frames, of who'$ responsible for what, of the prescribed standards and rates, of the decision-making processes, of the possibility for appeal, complaint or grievance redressal, and of the reasonably expected outputs and outcomes 10.7.2 Concepts like transparency and accountability must be framed in a manner in which they are governed by universal and inclusive processes. This is essential to empower every individual or group with the right to monitor a programme and help facilitate beneficiaries' claim their rights. 10.7.3 There must be equal and open access of information to all citizens and should preclude any attempt that may restrictlexclude a citizen from using information or from having to prove their locus standi. 10.7.44 There may be need to specially empower and facilitate certain marginalized groups to access information. 10.7.5 In all cases of pro-active disclosure O collective monitoring; there is an inherent need for facilitation by external agencieslindividuals/groups. 10.7.6 All relevant information regarding programmes and public institutions must be proactively displayed (mandatorily) and made accessible through different modes and medium; ensuring local language compatibility and keeping in mind the needs of the semi-literate, the illiterate and the differently abled 10.7.7 Information must be authenticated, updated with reasonable periodicity, and put across in a manner and format that is easy to understand: Towards that end, special proforma and formats need to be developed: 10.7.8 Relevant information must be appropriately displayed at the level of the village, Gram Panchayat, Block/Intermediate Panchayat and the District. 10.7.9 It must also be kept in mind that, as far as possible, all decision making should be done in public in the full view of all interested stakeholders. This is the best way of ensuring that decisions are not only fair but also appear to be fair: 10.7.10 Recognising that, despite best efforts, both the modes of providing information and of getting feedback can be corrupted or blocked, multiple modes and routes must be used in order to make it progressively difficult to inhibit the free flow of information to and from the people.

10 · 7.11 Whereas focus must be on using as far as possible culturally appropriate modes of communication, especially traditional modes with which the local people are familiar, the advantages promised by new and emerging technologies must also not be ignored. Of special relevance are mobile phones and social media which have effectively permeated rural households and promise an innovative, reliable and quick method of simultaneously communicating with a large number of people.

10 · 8 Record Keeping: Proper record maintenance is crucial to the effective implementation of any programme. There ought to be lot of clarity and simplicity in maintenance of minimum number of records to enable the cutting edge functionaries at Gram Panchayat level to spend their time effectively and gainfully in ensuring smooth implementation of the programme and not to be bogged down by the maintenance of Records and Registers alone. The Ministry has reduced the number of Registers to be maintained at the Gram Panchayat level to 7 from an average of 22 Registers that were being maintained in different states_ The simplified formats of the 7 Registers are the outcome of intense engagement with the States, the representatives of Gram Rozgar Shayaks and NIC They are designed with view to ease the functioning of the field level personnel and reduce duplication of work without compromising with the quality of information especially those relating to entitlements of workers_

11 · Information Education Communication (IEC) Activities

1 · 1IEC is critical for enabling all the 10 entitlements under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA The administration and the implementing agency must enable mechanisms to create awareness about the entitlements of the workers and the access to the entitlements. 11.2 Expenditure for IEC activities taken up by the States/Districts can be met from the funds earmarked for administrative expenses (6% of the state funds). 11.3 As per the National IEC Strategy for Mahatma Gandhi NREGA, the suggested key messages of Mahatma Gandhi NREGA, which need to be disseminated to various target groups are: 13 Mahatma Gandhi NREGA guarantees hundred days of wage employment in financial year, to a rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work. ii. Individual beneficiary oriented works can be taken up on the lands of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, small or marginal farmers or beneficiaries of land reforms or beneficiaries under the Indira Awaas Yojana of the Government of India: iii. Within 15 days of submitting the application o from the day work is demanded, wage employment must be provided to the applicant iv. Workers have the right to get unemployment allowance in case employment is not provided within fifteen days of submitting the application Or from the date when work is sought: Wages must be paid within fifteen days of work done. vi. Permissible works which can be taken up by the Gram Panchayats vii. Mahatma Gandhi NREGA focuses 0 the economic and social empowerment of women. viii.Mahatma Gandhi NREGA provides "Green" and *Decent" work ix Social Audit of Mahatma Gandhi NREGA works is mandatory, which ensures accountability and transparency: Mahatma Gandhi NREGA works address the climate change vulnerability and protect the farmers from such risks and conserve natural resources xi: The Gram Sabha/Ward Sabha is the principal forum for wage seekers to raise their voices and make demands. It is the Gram Sabha/ Ward Sabha and the Gram Panchayat which approves the shelf of works for the Gram Panchayat under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA and affixes their priority. 11.4 The States are required to prepare their State IEC plans every year; and send reports at regular intervals to the Ministry. 11.5 Uniformity in messaging needs to be ensured for better results. At the National, State, or Village level, a standardised message should be disseminated, based on the core of the programme. 11.6 State IEC Nodal officers are to be nominated by the States to look after IEC activities of Mahatma Gandhi NREGA in the State. The name and details of State IEC Nodal officers need to be conveyed to the Ministry: For professional implementation of IEC activities, States are free to appoint Communication Officers with experience in development communication. 11.7 For effective IEC strategy the states need to integrate various non- negotiables like Social Audit; Rozgar Diwas, Citizen Information Boards, wall writing and Job Cards as IEC tools through which rural community can be made better aware of their rights and entitlements, and can be a part of monitoring as well as grievance redressal: Key messages on the Scheme may be disseminated through these platforms. Citizen Information Boards, Wall Writings and Job cards should become the prime medium for information dissemination. Job card apart from recording of entitlements, may be an important IEC tool to create awareness by incorporating relevant information package like salient features of the scheme, rights and entitlements of the enrolled worker; etc.

11 · 8 Using news media for disseminating good practices and information about the Scheme has been a focus of the Ministry: In the National IEC Strategy for Mahatma Gandhi NREGA, a media advocacy strategy has been incorporated. States are to conduct State level and District level orientation of journalists. 11.9 The Ministry has come up with two volumes of SANKALAN which is compilation of Innovations, Successes and Learnings along the Way' compilation of 101 such stories from across the country achieved through the MGNREGA programme. The intention is to document and disseminate these learnings from the ground. This will be regular feature with districts who are expected to submit at least 5 success storiesl innovationsl learning with proper documentation.

11 · 10 Library in MIS: library has been provided for in the Management Information System of the MGNREGA. It will have 3 Sections viz Section-I Important Documents/ Publications Acts Guidelines/ Circulars Rules/ Frameworks Training related documents: Works related MGNREGA Soft SOPs/ User Manuals BFT Training Modules Social Audit VRP module Social Audit 30 days training module GeoMGNREGA Best Practices Pdf version Convergence Thematic pages Research Studies

12 · MIS (NREGASoft) 12.1 NREGASoft The Ministry has developed a work flow based, web enabled application known as NREGASoft; which is hosted at the portal accessible as http:Ilnrega nic.in. The NREGASoft provides for recording of all transaction details of different processes in implementation of Mahatma Gandhi NREGA and putting the same in public domain: With this enabling architecture of NREGASoft, it is essential that States do timely reporting so that the public domain (http:IInrega nic in) represents the picture of Mahatma Gandhi NREGA implementation almost on or close to real-time, thereby ensuring transparency and accountability: States are also advised that the MIS entry for a particular financial year is closed within 15 days of the end of that financial year (i.e. by 15th April of the next financial year).

12 · 2 To facilitate States/UTs NREGAsoft is being regularly enhanced by developing new modules in the MIS as per the requirements f the States/ UTs. In this context, following new provisions/ modules have been enabled:

12 · 3 e-Muster Roll The instructions issued in section 4.6 of the Master Circular stands. In specific reference to e-musters, the following needs to be followed;

12 · 4 MIS Measurement Book All measurements of work done shall be recorded in the measurement book (MB) duly authorized and issued by the competent authority. Measurements recorded in MB need to be entered in the NREGASoft to determine valuation of work done.

12 · 4.1The following entries are required to be made for this purpose: As Activity Component: 1_ Details of the Activity ii. Length iii. Width iv. Height V. Unit Cost The total cost will be calculated by the system: B. Labour Component C. Material Component 1. Material name ii. Quantity iii. Unit price iv. Total (calculated automatically) The Mate name, Engineer Name and Engineer Designation

13 · GeoMGNREGA GIS implementation under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA Creation of durable assets and strengthening of rural livelihood base is an important objective under the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA. On an average, 30 Lakh works/ assets are completed annually, across the country. So, far more than 2.9 Cr. Asset IDs have been generated, of which more than 2.30 crore have been geotagged With an objective to improving the transparency and to enhance the visibility of the programme, the Ministry has started implementation of Geographic Information System (GIS) for implementation of Mahatma Gandhi NREGA in partnership with National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) through systematic creation of database on assets using technological interventions like mobile based geo-tagging and a GIS based information system for online recording and monitoring: The GIS data and maps will also be used for analysis and planning for works under MGNREGA. The National level geospatial framework is being implemented with geospatial information compatible to industry. The BHUVAN geoportal of NRSC has been customized for this purpose. The database is accessible to the Ministry and States for monitoring and database creation, respectively:

3 · GeoMGNREGA Phase-II: GeoMGNREGA Phase II has been rolled out in 31 States/UTs W.e.f: lst November 2017, where in geotagging is carried out at three stages viz:: i. Before initiation of work; ii. during the work and iii. after completion of work for all those works commencing in FY 2017-18 onwards_ Following are the processes to be adopted in NREGASoft for smooth implementation of GeoMGNREGA Phase-II: 1) Stage 1 geotagging (before the Start of Work): It has to be carried out on works with technical and administrative sanctions that have the Detailed Project Report (DPR) frozen in NREGASoft: ii) Stage 2 geotagging (during the Work): Once 30% of the estimated cost of the work is booked as expenditure, then the said work will be available for Stage 2 geotagging on GeoMGNREGA Bhuvan Mobile Application. However, if 609 of the estimated cost is booked as expenditure in NREGASoft and Stage-2 geotag has not been carried out, then no further expenditure on the work can be booked, till 2nd stage in not geotagged. iii) Stage 3 geotagging (After completion of work): Once the work is completed and closed at NREGASoft; it is available for Stage 3 geotagging:

5 · GeoMGNREGA platform should be used by States/UTs for the purpose of planning of works on particular site to avoid duplication of works while preparing labour budget. DGNO/DPC (District Programme Coordinator) will ensure 100% adherence to the guidelines issued under GeoMGNREGA.

14 · Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) and the Aadhaar Platform

14 · 1 Under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA Direct Benefit Transfer, all payments to the workers are to be credited into the accounts of the workers in the Bank/ Post Offices, unless exempted by the Ministry in special circumstances The credit may either happen using the banks/ Post office account details O using the Aadhaar number of the beneficiary with which the account may be linked.

14 · 2 The account details of the workers are being updated regularly in the MIS by the States, but in order to make Aadhaar Based Payments (ABP), there is a need for Aadhaar seeding and its mapping at National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) mapper by the banks The use of Aadhaar will be strictly in accordance with the order given by the Honourable Supreme Court. 14.3 In pursuance of the provisions of Section 7 of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and other Subsidies, Benefits and Services Act; 2016 (18 of 2016), the Central Government in the Ministry of Rural Development has notified o 3rd January, 2017 that any individual registered under the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA who is not yet enrolled for Aadhaar shall have to apply for Aadhaar enrolment by the date notified by the Ministry, and, in case, she or he is entitled to obtain Aadhaar aS per the provisions of section 3 of the said Act, such individuals may visit any Aadhaar enrolment centre to get enrolled for Aadhaar: Till the time Aadhaar is assigned to the individual, she or he shall be allowed to work under the Mahatma Gandhi NREG Act; 2005 subject to the production of the following documents, namely:

14 · 5 DBT Strategy In order to implement the DBT under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA, the following DBT strategy will be followed in all statesl UTs:

14 · 6 Step by Step process of conversion of accounts into Aadhaar Based Payments (ABPS) 14.6.1 Aadhaar seeding in the NREGASoft database: Opportunity should be provided to all workers to voluntarily enrol under Aadhaar. A drive may be undertaken to ensure all Active workers are contacted, consent is sought and thereafter, they are enrolled under Aadhaar (if not yet done). The Aadhaar numbers of all active workers, thus enrolled must be seeded in the database. The computer operators in the Block/ Gram Panchayat Office shall be mandated to do the data entry after due verification of the accompanying details The progress of data entry will be displayed on daily basis on the website and communicated to the District Programme Coordinators. 14.6.2 At the District level, the drive shall be led by the District Programme Coordinators. The State Government shall hold an orientation session with all the District Programme Coordinators to explain the task expected of them. 14.6.3 At the Block level, the Block Development Officers/ Programme Officers BDOs/ Programme Officers) will be the Charge Officers for this drive. The District Programme Coordinator will be responsible for training the BDOs in conducting the drive. 14.6.4 BDOs Programme Officers shall entrust the work of collection of Aadhaar numbers to the Gram Rozgar Sewak concerned. 14.6.5 A_ village-wise report is available on NREGASoft listing the names of active workers whose Aadhaar numbers have not been captured in the database. BDOs will ensure that this is printed and available with the Gram Rozgar Sewak This whole process will take place after seeking consent of the workers and in line with the order of the Honourable Supreme Court:

14 · 6.6 At the Gram Panchayat level, the Gram Rozgar Sewak shall be the person to collect the Aadhaar numbers from the workers who have given their consent: 14.6.7 There shall be an orientation and training workshop for the Gram Rozgar Sewaks at the Block level to take up this work. During the workshop, Gram Rozgar Sewaks shall be explained the task and shall also be provided with the list of active workers whose Aadhaar numbers are not available in the database. 14.6.8 Gram Rozgar Sewak shall collect the Aadhaar number along with a Xerox copy of the Aadhaar letter or Aadhaar card for comparing at the Block level before data entry. 14.6.9 The Gram Rozgar Sewak shall be mandated to do this task in a satisfactory manner 14.6.10 Every weekend, the Gram Rozgar Sewaks shall report back to the Block office along with a list of Aadhaar numbers collected during the week: These meetings shall be held weekly, till saturation is achieved. 14.6.11 Manual Verification in Case of Authentication Failure by The Programme Officers: Ministry does demographic authentication of the Aadhaar data which is seeded in NREGASoft using the Authentication User Agency-Authentication Service Agency appointed by UIDAI and ensures that Aadhaar numbers entered are correct Wherever the records seeded with Aadhaar numbers fail the demographic authentication, they need to be manually checked for inaccuracies by the Programme Officer or some other senior functionary: This can also be done by physically checking with the workers Aadhaar letters. There is a report in the MIS for cases waiting/ pending for verification. list of such numbers is provided in each Programme Officer s login. Programme Officers shall be mandated to complete this verification for active workers This task may be done on a regular basis. 14.6.12 Account Freezing Drive: All bank accounts where the payments are being made shall be verified with the Banks/Post Offices and confirmed in the online database by the Programme Officers, without which no payment can be made. The list of all such accounts that need to be confirmed (frozen) is placed in the Programme Officer's log-in, and can be printed BanklPost office wise. 14.6.13 Updating Consent Form Details in MIS: Each Programme Officer shall ensure that the consent details shared by the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA workers is updated in the NREGASoft: 14.6.14 Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for expediting Aadhaar seeding in Bank Accounts: To expedite Aadhaar seeding and ABP conversion, the SOP has been worked out This incorporates the process flow for obtaining, submitting and updating Aadhaar seeding consent forms of MGNREGA workers and the seeding of their Aadhaar number in their bank accounts. The Programme Officer will share details at the district level to the DPC and the DPC will hand over the following to the Lead District Managers (LDMs) for ABPS conversion: a. Beneficiary Consent form duly signed b. Copy of Aadhaar of Beneficiary C_ Two List from NREGA soft (a) Hardcopy of PDF and (b) Soft copy in MS Excel file to be emailed to LDM

14 · 6.15 Aadhaar Payment Bridge System (APBS) The APBS works only with the bank accounts which are on Core Banking System (CBS) platform: Under this system, all transfers into accounts are electronic and near real time based on the Aadhaar number of the worker seeded into the bank account of the said worker and mapped on the NPCI mapper. As and when a pay order is released, the NREGASoft shares the files with PFMS; PFMS, in turn, shares the file with the States Sponsor Banks Then the States Sponsor Bank processes these payments through NPCI, debits the account and credits the beneficiary account: PFMS, then, sends a response file to NREGASoft All this is supposed to be done in T+l days' timeframe for the Bankl Post offices which are on core banking system: It has the capacity to eliminate delays and bring transparency into the payment process

14 · 7 Ministry has established a fully automated system through the central server to bring in APBS that completes the following tasks a) Once the Aadhaar number is seeded in the database, the server automatically checks it with UID database within a period of 7 days, and segregates the confirmed records and the rejected records. b) Rejected records are sent to the Programme Officer automatically with a request to re- check the details on the field: All confirmed records having consent of the workers are sent to banks Banks seed and place the data on NPCI mapper. After Mapper check, the accounts which are mapped with Aadhaar in bank database are converted to APB system:

15 · Financing Mahatma Gandhi NREGA

15 · 1 Release of Funds Section 22 of the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA provides the framework for the funding pattern under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA. Funds are released to the States/UTs normally in two tranches with more than one instalment in one tranche based on agreed to Labour Budget (LB), opening balance, pending liabilities of the previous year, if any, and overall performance. The first instalment of first tranche will to be released to the States/UTs in lst half of April, 2018.

15 · 1.1 First Tranche lst Tranche is released to States/Districts in the month of April. The quantum of first instalment of the first tranche will calculated based on-

15 · 1.2 Second tranche The Znd Tranche is released on submission of proposal in the prescribed format by the State and subject to fulfilment of all the prescribed conditions The proposal can be submitted after a districtl state has utilized 60 percent of the total available funds If the proposal for Znd Tranche is submitted after Ist October, then the Audit Report for the last year is also required. Quantum of funds to be released as part of second tranche depends upon the performance of the State/UT: Steps to release of Second Tranche The State will submit a consolidated proposal for Znd tranche along with modified checklist A B and C, to the Ministry, only after utilizing 60 per cent of total fund available with the State as whole and compliance of the prerequisites as laid down under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA. b_ A certificate stating that no programme fund has been diverted during the FY is required to be given. It should also be certified that there has been no embezzlement O misappropriation of funds under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA and in cases where this has happened; adequate steps have been taken to punish the guilty and recover the embezzled 0r misappropriated amount. In case State becomes eligible for release of Znd tranche after 30th September in a FY, the State will submit certificate stating that Audit Reports (AR) and Utilisation Certificates (UCs) from all the districts in the State have been received and found to be in order in all respects. A consolidated Audit Report will also be submitted with the proposal. d. If there are pending liabilities at the end of the previous financial year; the same should be reflected as liability in the balance sheet of the Audit Report of the previous financial year: Advance State share or loans taken by the State may also be reflected as pending liability in the Utilisation Certificate attached to the proposal. f. A certificate stating that all pending audit observations by the auditor have been complied with should be provided along with the fund release proposal.

15 · 2 Administrative Expenses Up to 6% of the total expenditure under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA in a financial year can be utilized for administrative expenses.

15 · 3 Complaints and fund release Section 27(2) of Mahatma Gandhi NREGA, states that; "the Central Government may, on receipt of any complaint regarding lack of effective implementation of the provisions of the Act O regarding the improper utilization of funds granted under this Act, order an investigation into the complaint and if necessary, shall order stoppage of release of funds to the scheme if no appropriate remedial measures are instituted for proper implementation within reasonable period of time as defined by the Central Government.

15 · 3.1 Standard Operating Procedure on Complaints Mahatma Gandhi NREGA Division in the Ministry will look into all complaints received in the Ministry and will segregate it into categories as such: A Petitions General/ non-specific statements on the implementation of the Scheme and general observations/suggestions on the improvement in the Scheme will come under this category. These would include: 1_ increasing the number of days of works ji. increasing the wage rate iii. inclusion of new category of works etc B. Grievances/Complaints regarding procedural violation of Guidelines Irregularities, which are born out of deficiencies like lack of capacity building, shortage of staff, lack of planning etc. will come under this category. These include allegations where no criminal intent is involved, such as delay in completion of works, etc_ C. Complaints relating to ineffective implementation of the Act In this category, will be included complaints relating to large scale and prolonged deviation from the main provisions of the Act including: 1_ Non-involvement of Gram Sabha/Ward Sabha in the selection of works ii. Not conducting Social Audits iii. Delay in payment of wages, D. Complaints involving financial irregularities Any allegation relating to possible or actual loss to the exchequer and where criminal intent is involved will come under this category: These include: 1. Purchase of materials without following applicable financial procedures with the intention of causing wrongful loss to the scheme or wrongful gain to another party ii. Embezzlement of funds/misappropriation of funds, fudging of financial records including duplication of muster rolls, bogus entries, etc.

16 · Skilling and Capacity Building under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA

16 · 1 Barefoot Technicians Guidelines for identification, training, deployment and payment of Barefoot Technicians: 16.1.1 Barefoot Technician' is an educated person identified from the local Mahatma Gandhi NREGA worker households or from among the mateslsupervisors and specially trained in civil engineering concepts using a customized training module such that shel he, acquires required skills for identification and estimation of works, giving mark-out for works in the field and record measurement of the work done in the Measurement-Book of the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA. Every statel UT government should have a deployment policy for the BFT.

16 · 1.2 GRSs should be also be formally trained as barefoot technicians to carry out essential engineering functions including those related to water supply and sanitation: They should function as TA of the GP and their work should be supervised by a qualified technical person at the cluster/Intermediate level. This arrangement is recommended for Panchayats or a cluster of Panchayats with population less than 20,000. 16.1.3 Eligibility: The following shall be the eligibility criteria for selection as BFT:

16 · 1.4 Identification: a Identification of cluster of GPs: The Programme Officer shall be authorized to identify the areas requiring services of a BFT, which shall be done keeping in view the scope stated above b_ Identification of BFTs for training: Subsequent to the identification of area, selection may be done in the following manner. The state Government shall adopt appropriate methodology to popularise the project among MGNREGA households. ii. All active job card households in the block shall be listed in descending order of the number of days worked in MGNREGA during the current year: iii. All willing and eligible candidates from the active worker HHs will be shortlisted for appearing in the screening test: The Matel Supervisors/ GRS will be considered for the screening test even if they have not worked as an unskilled MGNREGA worker in current year:

16 · 1.5 Customised Module: The module for the BFT consists of 12 Learning Units and 1 Trainers Guide. The Learning units are developed in both English and Hindi language. This is available in the Ministry website. The 12 learning units are to be provided free of cost to the BFTs during the training:

16 · 1.6 Training: The candidates s0 identified shall be sponsored by the State Government with a commitment to appoint the person as BFT in case of successful completion of the training programme. The training programme is residential in nature and is of 90 days duration. NIRD will anchor this process and work with the SIRD's/any other institutions as decided by the State Government to deliver the training with the support of the Ministry: The following are the steps to be taken:

16 · 1.7 Certification: On completion of training, Agriculture Skills Council of India (ASCI) will conduct assessment test and trainees qualifying the assessment test shall be provided certificates confirming to NSQF Level-4.

16 · 1.8 Employment: The State Government will devise guideline for deployment of Barefoot Technicians detailing the terms of engagement: The BFTs shall be deployed in identified cluster of Gram Panchayats keeping in view the Scope of work for BFTs. Copy of following documents may be treated as pre-requisite before deployment of BFTs: 1. BFT Certificate issued by NSDC-ASCI conforming to the NSQF Level-04

16 · 1.10 Terms of Engagement: The terms of tenure, remuneration, performance assessment process for BFTs are to be decided by the State Government as deemed appropriate.

16 · 1.11 Work entrusted to BFTs: The tasks of BFTs are fivefold: 1) Assist TA/JEIAE in identifying the scope and nature of proposed work under MGNREGS W.I.t. identification of works to be taken up under MGNREGS; collection of baseline information (land use, ownership) etc and making presentation to Gram Sabha. ii) Assist TA/JEIAE in technical survey and setting out of works, planning and estimating works under MGNREGS by undertaking technical survey, preparation of estimates, drawings, designs etc. and submitting requisite technical documents before GP competent authority for taking decisions. iii) Assist TA/JEIAE in opening of work on advice from GP by helping in preparation of work schedule that documents required material and labour inputs and in updation of shelf of works_ iv) Assist TA/JEIAE in supervision/ overseeing of work, work site management by ensuring that all appropriate work site facilities are provided and ensuring timely measurement of works_ Assist in maintenance of records and registers under MGNREGS.

16 · 1.12 Payment: The payment of remuneration to BFTs shall be decided by the State Government as deemed appropriate. As the BFTs are skilled persons, the payment should be as skilled labour and should be met from the material component of work The payment process will be same as in case of Technical Assistants (TAs).

16 · 2 Project Livelihoods in Full Employment under MGNREGA (Project LIFE MGNREGA): Project for Livelihoods in Full Employment under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA (Project LIFE - Mahatma Gandhi NREGA) is convergence initiative to proactively prioritise willing youth from households largely dependent on Mahatma Gandhi NREGA for livelihood, to be supported through skilling programmes by Deen Dayal Upadhaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY), livelihood interventions of Deen Dayal Upadhaya Antyoday NRLM (DAY-NRLM) and Entrepreneur Development Programmes of Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETI). 16.2.1 The project aims at promoting self-reliance and improving the skill-base of the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA workers and transforming them into confident; fully employed self- sufficient persons and entrepreneurial entities. 16.2.2 This project will be implemented as per the following strategy: 1) The Project shall identify the youth in families dependent mostly on Mahatma Gandhi NREGA for their livelihood, skill them/ improve their livelihood asset base in convergence with DA Y-NRLM, and DDU-GKY.

16 · 2.3 Registration/ Survey shall be carried for 3 broad categories viz. L.Skilling for Wages; II.Skilling for Self-Employment; and III Livelihood Upgradation. 16.2.4 Registration/ Survey shall be the responsibility of Mahatma Gandhi NREGA Commissioners of the States The Mahatma Gandhi NREGA Commissioners shall officially share the result of the Survey with the State Rural Livelihood Mission (SRLM) of the State in form of the three lists viz. 16.2.4.1 List of Youths interested in Skilling for wages, 16.2.4.2 List of Youths interested in Skilling for Self -Employment, and 16.2.4.3 List of HHs interested in Livelihood upgradation. 16.2.5 In States where Skill as a subject is not under the SRLM, the list of Skilling for wages should be shared with the State Nodal Skills Mission (SNSMY any other Agency that the State has entrusted with the task of skilling rural youths 16.2.6 The State Rural Livelihoods Missions (SRLMs) shall be the overall implementing agencies for this project. SRLM shall prepare State Skilling Plans that shall have three separate plans, one for each broad category mentioned above. 16.2.7 The skilling under the 3 categories shall be carried out as per the instructions issued by the Ministry in this regard.

16 · 3 Capacity building/ training of Technical Persons State Technical Resource Team (STRT); District Technical Resource Team (DTRT) and Block Technical Resource Team (BTRT) Training programmes for the State Technical Resource Team (STRT), District Technical Resource Team (DTRT) and Block Technical Resource Team (BTRT) under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA have been organised by the NIRD. The prime objective of this training programme is to develop a cadre of identified technical experts in the subject matter of Mahatma Gandhi NREGA implementation in respective States. The States are required to create the DTRTs and BTRTs and impart training through STRTs a8 per the Action Plan prepared The Ministry will release funds, calculated as per the same, through NIRD&PR: The training modules are continuously being updated. SAKSHAM' module for NRM based planning and design of works has been developed in consultation with National Remote Sensing Centre, Hyderabad and Central Ground Water Board. It has relevant modules on GIS based planning also. The technical persons across all states and UTs need to be capacitated on same_

16 · 4 Training Need Assessment and Preparation of Annual Capacity Building Plan: There are around 4.30 lakh functionaries directly involved in implementation of MGNREGS at district; block and Gram Panchayat level. Capacity building of such functionaries based on a scientific assessment of actual requirement of the functionaries based on their job charts along with their

17 · Partnership with Civil Society Organizations

17 · 1 The role of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) is facilitating and supporting the administration in implementing Mahatma Gandhi NREGA through the following activities: 17.1.1 Awareness building, demand registration, organisation of Gram Rozgar Diwas, mobilization support and strengthening of the capacity of workers. 17.1.2 Training and support for capacity building at the National, State, District, Block and sub- block levels. 17.1.3 Facilitating the approval of the shelf of projects in Gram Sabha/Ward Sabha at the Gram Panchayat 17.1.4 Ministry has directed that the engagement of Civil Society Organisations in actual implementation of the Act and making them directly responsible to generate persondays is undesirable. It was advised that Civil Society Organisation/NGOs should remain in facilitating role. 17.2 Civil Society Organisation/NGOs involved in facilitating role should have signed up in the NGO-partnership (NGO-PS) Portal of the Niti Aayog with all self-declared details and should have obtained a Unique ID. This Unique ID should be mandatorily quoted in proposals by the NGO. All registered NGOs should update their data base in the Portal every year: 17.3 Among the registered NGOs, the State Programme Coordinator (SPC)/Commissioner; Mahatma Gandhi NREGA may identify the eligible ones for engagement The framework of the partnership must clearly detail out area of operation, deliverables, timelines and financial arrangements_ The State Programme Coordinator (SPC)Commissioner, Mahatma Gandhi NREGA is responsible for creating an enabling environment for a collaborative engagement with the Civil Society Organisation. 17.4 The interface of Civil Society Organisation with the implementation architecture is critical to enable the Civil Society Organisation'$ discharge their responsibilities at all levels. Such an engagement should list the accountability of both the administration and the Civil Society Organisation. 17. Community based organisations (CBO) and village organisations (VO) such as SHG, watershed committees etc are critical to the implementation of Mahatma Gandhi NREGA at grassroots level. The activities that CBOs may be engaged in are 17.5.1 Supporting the micro-level planning for the Panchayati Raj Institutions in planning processes, including Mission Antyodaya: 17.5.2 Facilitating the Social Audit process by assisting in the identification of Village Social Auditors and working as volunteers_ 17..3 Concurrent community monitoring 0 work site as well as through the active participation in the Gram Panchayat functioning: 17.5.4 Facilitating the organisation of Labour Groups to coordinate the registration of demand and redressal of grievances as people's collective.

18 · Awards

18 · 1 Mahatma Gandhi NREGA Annual Awards are presented at 'Mahatma Gandhi NREGA Sammelan on 2nd February, which is commemorated as Mahatma Gandhi NREGA Diwas The following awards are given:

18 · 2 The process of application and criteria for selection are: 18.2.1 The State Governments initiate the process of inviting nominations for State and District awards through the State Screening Committee, and forward the duly recommended nominations for the consideration of the Award Committee constituted by the Ministry. 18.2.2 For the award for financial inclusion, the Department of Posts forwards nominations of their staff, along with citations duly recommended for consideration by the Ministry. 18.2.3 For the award of best performing Gram Panchayat; the screening and recommendations of names of Gram Panchayats are based on the field verification done by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj: 18.3 The overall framework and scheme for awards is uploaded on the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA website: nrega.nic.in.

19 · Research under MGNREGA

19 · 1 Two-pronged strategy to strengthen the domain of research and impact evaluation studies: To strengthen the domain of research studies for MGNREGA, two-pronged strategy has been adopted. Firstly, each state is to commission research studies o two selected themes within their scope and articulated priorities Secondly, NIRD&PR will act as the nodal agency for the research projects to be taken up by the Ministry Scope and Objective: The broad aims of the Research Studies can include: Evaluation on the program'$ effectiveness and efficacy against the objectives of the Act: b_ Critical Assessments of the policies, processes and operational bottlenecks with suitable recommendations. C_ Assessment of the new initiatives and projects like the Barefoot Technicians, Project Life etc. d. Assessment of some of the bigger state initiatives like river rejuvenation to learn on their impact on regional economy as well as ecology: e_ Performance assessment of the various institutions under the Act: f. Documentation of the best practices and scale-able models.

20 · Key Functionaries and their Roles

20 · 2 Technical Assistant The Technical Assistant (TA) will assist the GP in identifying and conducting measurement of works. The TA should be appointed for a cluster of villages; depending on the potential labour demand. TA will report to the GP, CFT and PO. The TA should be a generalist with an understanding of the MGNREGA processes and be well versed with various MGNREGS works. Helshe should be trained in estimating and measuring works pertaining to watershed development, natural resource management, agriculture, horticulture and so on.

20 · 3 Block Level Programme Officer not below the rank of the Block Development Officer should be appointed at the Block level. The Programme Officer will be a full-time dedicated officer, and acts as a coordinator for Mahatma Gandhi NREGS (MGNREGS) at the Block level.

20 · 4 District Level The State Government designates a DPC, who can be either the Chief Executive Officer of the District Panchayat (DP), or the District Collector (DC), or any other District-level officer of appropriate rank: The DPC is responsible for the implementation of the scheme in the district, in accordance with the provisions made in the MGNREGA 2005 and rules and guidelines made thereunder. The DPC shall: