MGNREGA updates as on 15th Feb 2013

MGNREGA Burdwan : updates as on 15th February 2013 and some facts on present fund position
Fund Position Funds available Rs 456 crores, out of which Rs 440 crores were released in 2012-13 financial year.
Rs 54 crores were released in last week of January 2013 only and Rs 3 crores in middle of  February 2013, so Rs 440 crores were available for expenditure despite more than 93 percent MIS.
Fund released to GPs/ PIAs is Rs 450 crores and rest is allotted for administrative expenditure on staff at block, GPs and district plus cost of implementation.
Funds utilised as per provisional MPR reports is Rs 435 crores, which may be on higher side once actual reports are collected on 25th February 2013.
Funds reflected in online MIS on www.nrega.nic.in is Rs 421 Crores against uploading of Rs 435 crores.
It may be seen that funds now released are uploaded immediately on making payments against the ongoing works and material bills of works completed earlier. There is hardly any funds actually available for ongoing works but MIS shows around Rs 35 crores as it's either under payment process or not reflected after upload. This is more than 93 % of available funds, much higher than bench mark of 60 % for next allotment.
This creates an impression that district has this fund for new works but in reality it is already spent and there is very small fund available at GPs for making wage payments of ongoing works.
Employment generation Man days to be generated as per Annual Labour Budget is 227 lakhs
Man days projection till February 2013 is 210 Lakhs
Man days already generated 220 lakhs as on 15th February 2013.
Man days as shown in MIS on www.nrega.nic.in is 187 Lakhs in 2012-13 financial year and 24 lakhs in 2011-12 year as payments were made in the current year. That means, 9 lakhs is yet to be reflected in the MIS.
Now, the funds of Rs 456 crores made available this year can generate Rs 456  crores/Rs 226.67 man days i.e.202  lakhs man days. Balance Labour Budget available to district is only 25 lakhs for which only Rs 60 crores may be further required to be released to the district.
It is obvious from the above calculations that Labour Budget Proposed by the district at 240 lakhs must be allowed and spill over labour payments of 24 lakhs man days for 2011-12 must be allotted additional in the current year so as to get additional budgetary allocation of Rs 54.40 crores in the current approved budget of Rs 515 crores to create 227 lakhs man days.
District can achieve man days of 300 lakhs only if further funds of Rs 120 crores are made available before March 2013.
All blocks have been advised to take up works against sanction of Programme Officers and after confirming approved budgetary allocations as no spill over liability should be encouraged.
Burdwan district incurred highest ever expenditure by any district in the country in any financial year since inception and also disbursed highest ever funds on wages to create employment generation in the current year covering maximum families in rural areas. We hope to get adequate funds to meet the present requirement during the peak season of February to June 2013.

Mid day meal needs review by Sdos and Bdos

During my field visits to few schools last week in Ausgram1 tribal areas,  I am disappointed to find that project monitoring and supervision is being done in a mechanical way without much improvement and follow up at the Institution level. Following points needs to be looked into by all Sdos and Bdos through one to one review with their office staff and officers :-
1. Food grains stock and release to school must be reworked based on actual consumption as per quarterly trend and accordingly adjust allotments in such a way that food grains for not more than three months are stocked at any school.
2. Identify schools with less than 75 percent student taking MDM and organise awareness meetings with the help of NGOs or social organisations.
3. District will start courier service to deliver copies of allotments and release orders of food grains as well as funds to individual schools so that they get it in time.  Sdos and Bdos may accordingly assign the job to courier and payment can be done from MME funds.
4. Since MIS on web portal is not at all satisfactory,  engage outsourced agency for one time data entry and thereafter let block supervisors update monthly reports. All MIS for schools, use of software etc must be in place by 15th March 2013. Sdos and Bdos has to ensure this through what ever strategy they want. Funds will not be any problem. Sdos to post one Dy Magistrate to be OC MDM.
5. All construction works of kitchen sheds must commence without any further delay and photographs od complete units be sent to OC MDM.
6. Sdo and bdos must sit half an hour in a week with their team and follow up.
7. Keep in touch with schools and convince them to feed all kids.
8. Please see that all compliance of Right to free and compulsory education are ensured by 31st March 2013.

All blocks to gear up MGNREGA wage works

Fund availability is still a problem despite our best efforts to pursue with State Govt and Ministry.  We have released whatever funds could be arranged.  

• It is assured that wage payments as per demand and actual works will be cleared within 15 days of muster roll claims uploaded on MIS and accordingly all Bdos are advised to take up large number of wage oriented works immediately.  
• GPs that engaged labourers and maximise the wage generation will be provided funds first. It must be ensured that GPs/ Blocks who exceeded Annual Labour Budget mandays may not get further funds unless their revised labour budget is allowed and MIS of more than 90 % of available funds is reflected.
• While visiting tribal areas of Ausgram1 last week it is found that job card holders did not get even single day job after issue of new job cards on renewal. There are rumours that no wage employment has been provided as no new works were taken up since August 2012. Such an impression against the authorities is not at all desirable and bdos must take corrective measures to provides works ro such poor areas in Jungalmahal and weaker section areas.
• Field visits must be increased by bdos and other officers so as to improve the connect with people.