A procedural study of MGNREGS in Madhya Pradesh to identify delays in wage payment Project Report Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Good Governance & Policy Analysis Project Team Special Guidance 1. Shri Padamvir Singh, Director General 2. Shri Akhilesh Argal, Director Guidance Shri Madan Mohan Upadhyay, Principal Advisor, Centre for Social Sector Development Project coordinator Dr. Mangala Gowri M S, Deputy Advisor, Centre for Social Sector Development Support Staff 1.Megha Lakshakar (Research Associate) 2. Manisha Chauhan (Data Entry Operator) [A procedural study of MGNREGS in MP to identify delays in wage payment] 2017 Table of contents Contents Table of contents .......................................................................................................................... 2 List of Abbreviations.................................................................................................................... 4 Foreword ...................................................................................................................................... 5 Executive Summary ..................................................................................................................... 6 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 11 1.1Background ....................................................................................................................... 12 1. Issuing of muster roll ..................................................................................................... 12 2. Marking attendance of workers ...................................................................................... 12 3. Valuation of muster ........................................................................................................ 12 4. Preparation of wage list .................................................................................................. 13 5. Janpad level processing .................................................................................................. 13 6. Generation of Fund Transfer Order (FTO) .................................................................... 13 7. Public fund Management System (PFMS)- ................................................................... 13 8. At the level of the banks ................................................................................................. 14 1.2 Identified Stakeholders .................................................................................................... 16 1.3 Objectives of the study .................................................................................................... 16 1.4 Rationale of the study ...................................................................................................... 16 1.5 Methodology .................................................................................................................... 18 1.6 Sample size ...................................................................................................................... 20 1.7 Limitations of the study ................................................................................................... 22 2. Data Analysis and Interpretation ............................................................................................ 23 2.1 Findings of the pilot study ............................................................................................... 23 2.1.1 At the level of JP ....................................................................................................... 24 2.1.2 At the level of G P .................................................................................................. 25 2.2 District Profiles ................................................................................................................ 26 2.2.1 Alirajpur .................................................................................................................... 26 2.2.2 Balaghat..................................................................................................................... 29 2.2.3 Betul .......................................................................................................................... 31 2.2.4 Chhatarpur ................................................................................................................. 34 2.2.5 Chhindwara ............................................................................................................... 35 2.2.6 Datia .......................................................................................................................... 38 2.2.7 Dhar ........................................................................................................................... 41 2.2.8 Dindori ...................................................................................................................... 44 2.2.9 Harda ......................................................................................................................... 46 2 [A procedural study of MGNREGS in MP to identify delays in wage payment] 2017 2.2.10 Jhabua ...................................................................................................................... 50 2.2.11 Mandla..................................................................................................................... 53 2.2.12 Rajgarh .................................................................................................................... 56 2.2.13 Ratlam ..................................................................................................................... 59 2.2.14 Sagar ........................................................................................................................ 61 2.2.15 Shadol ...................................................................................................................... 64 2.2.16 Singrauli .................................................................................................................. 67 2.2.17 Tikamgarh ............................................................................................................... 70 2.3 Consolidated trends.......................................................................................................... 73 Table 68: Delays identified in the chosen districts............................................................. 73 2.3.1 Stage 1 ....................................................................................................................... 73 2.3.2 Stage 2 .......................................................................................................................... 76 2.3.2.1 Other problems .......................................................................................................... 77 2.3.3 Stage 3 .......................................................................................................................... 81 2.3.4 Stage 4 .......................................................................................................................... 84 2.4 Problems during DBT ...................................................................................................... 84 2.4.1 Issues and challenges at the level of Banks ............................................................... 84 3. Findings as per objectives ...................................................................................................... 87 4. Recommendations .................................................................................................................. 89 3 [A procedural study of MGNREGS in MP to identify delays in wage payment] 2017 List of Abbreviations AAO Assistant Accounts Officer AE Assistant Engineer APO Assistant Project Officer BC Banking Correspondent CEOJP Chief Executive Officer, Janpad Panchayat CEOZP Chief Executive Officer Zila Panchayat CPSMS Central Plan Scheme Monitoring System DBT Direct Benefit Transfer FTO Fund Transfer Order GP Gram Panchayat GRS Gram Rozgar Sahayak IBA Indian Bankers Association JP Janpad Panchayat MB Measurement Book MGNREGA Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act MIS Management Information System MR Muster Roll NEFT National Electronic Fund Transfer NPCI National Payment Corporation of India PFMS Public Fund Management System RBI Reserve Bank of India UTR Unique Transaction Reference 4 [A procedural study of MGNREGS in MP to identify delays in wage payment] 2017 Foreword Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Good Governance and Policy Analysis (AIGGPA) undertakes research on various schemes and policy issues and works in collaboration with concerned Departments to provide strategic inputs and suggestions. The core staff of the Institute co-ordinate and execute the research programmes. The institute conducts extensive brain storming sessions and workshops with subject matter experts in order to validate the findings. The past year witnessed many delays in the payment of wages of MGNREGS workers. MGNREGS caters to the lowest strata of people in the society. The scheme is designed to provide social security through asset creation. So delay in the payment of wages in such a scheme would be impacting the most vulnerable section. The scheme in its present form touches the lives of over one crore people in Madhya Pradesh alone. So AIGGPA decided to take up an inquiry