Union Budget 2017: Allocation to MNREGA increased to Rs 48000 crore, FM Jaitley says highest ever

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley holds a briefcase containing federal budget documents as he arrives to present the budget in Parliament house. Feb. 1, 2017 (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, addressing the Budget Session in Parliament on Wednesday, said the allocation to Mahatama Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) has been increased Rs 48,000 crore for the year 2017-18.  “Budget allocation to MNREGA has been increased to a record Rs 48,000 crore for 2017-18 from Rs 37,000 crore in 2016-17,” Arun Jaitley said. The finance Minister added it is the highest allocation to MNREGA ever done by any government.

The finance minister also said the participation of women in MNREGA has increased over the years. “Participation of women in MNREGA increased to 55 per cent from 45 per cent in the past,” he said. Talking about new ways to monitor the implementation of the scheme, Arun said the government will use space technology to monitor MNREGA implementation.

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Jaitley’s announcement came a day after Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi criticised the central government for being a “complete failure” in the area of jobs creation. Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu slammed Gandhi for his remarks and said the highest-ever allocation to rural job scheme MNREGA was given by this government and the 70-odd initiatives the government has highlighted are all job-oriented and have measures for employment generation.

Last Minister of State for Rural Development Ram Kripal Yadav in Monsoon Parliament session informed Rajya Sabha 62.42 per cent MNREGA wages get delayed. As per the programme (MNREGA) management information system, 62.42 per cent of the total wages paid under the employment guarantee scheme got delayed, Yadav had said.