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Indian Express
7 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
NITI Aayog conducts ‘evaluation study' of MGNREGS amid proposal for 5.23 lakh crore outlay till 2029-30
The NITI Aayog is conducting an 'evaluation study' of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), the Government informed Lok Sabha on Tuesday, even as the Ministry of Rural Development has circulated a proposal seeking approval for the scheme's continuation and an outlay for Rs 5.23 lakh crore till 2029-30, a period that coincides with the next Finance Commission (16th) cycle. The proposal seeks the approval of the Ministry of Finance's Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC). The 'evaluation study' by the Government's premier public policy think tank is crucial for getting EFC approval, said a source. The Ministry of Finance has told all ministries and departments that no centrally sponsored scheme or central sector scheme will be considered for continuation beyond March 31, 2026, without a third-party evaluation. Sources say the EFC approval and appraisal are part of a central exercise to evaluate and approve the Government's schemes for the next Finance Commission cycle. In a written reply to a question asked by Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation member Sudama Prasad, Union Minister of State of Rural Development Kamlesh Paswan informed the House that the Development, Monitoring and Evaluation Office (DMEO), NITI Aayog, has recently taken up an 'evaluation study' of the MGNREGS. The last time the NITI Aayog had conducted an 'evaluation study' of the MGNREGS was in 2019-20. It had also evaluated five other schemes. 'The study focused on the effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and sustainability of these schemes, including the Mahatma Gandhi NREGS, to gauge their overall contribution to the national rural economy,' Paswan said. Paswan also shared details of internal audits and review of the MGNREGS conducted in recent years. 'The Internal Audit Wing (IAW) under the Office of the Chief Controller of Accounts (CCA) has been conducting Risk-Based Internal Audits of MGNREGS implementation in states since FY 2013-14…Risk Based Internal Audits of Mahatma Gandhi NREGS have been conducted in 225 districts of 30 states/UTs since 2013-14,' the Union minister stated. 'Further, Amarjeet Sinha Committee was constituted in 2021 to examine various factors affecting demand for wage employment in the rural sector in different parts of country and to study/analyze the trends of expenditure across States under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS along with reasons for inter-state variations with specific focus on governance issues. The report of the Committee has since been received and some of the recommendations have been identified for appropriate action,' he further said. 'In addition to this, Development, Monitoring and Evaluation Office (DMEO), NITI Aayog also has recently taken up an Evaluation Study of Mahatma Gandhi NREGS,' Paswan added. The MGNREGS is backed by law and therefore the EFC approval is just a formality. The MGNREGS was launched in 200 most backward rural districts of the country in 2006-07, was extended to an additional 130 districts during 2007-08, and to the entire country from the financial year 2008-09. The scheme saw a spike in demand for work during 2020-21, when a record 7.55-crore rural families availed of the scheme in the wake of Covid outbreak. The scheme became a safety net for migrants who returned to their villages during the Covid lockdown in 2020. However, since then the number of families that worked under the MGNREGS has gradually come down—7.25 crore in 2021-22, 6.18 crore in 2022-23, 5.99 crore in 2023-24, and 5.79 crore in 2024-25. The scheme has been suspended in West Bengal since March 2022. Harikishan Sharma, Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express' National Bureau, specializes in reporting on governance, policy, and data. He covers the Prime Minister's Office and pivotal central ministries, such as the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare, Ministry of Cooperation, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ministry of Rural Development, and Ministry of Jal Shakti. His work primarily revolves around reporting and policy analysis. In addition to this, he authors a weekly column titled "STATE-ISTICALLY SPEAKING," which is prominently featured on The Indian Express website. In this column, he immerses readers in narratives deeply rooted in socio-economic, political, and electoral data, providing insightful perspectives on these critical aspects of governance and society. ... Read More
NDTV
03-08-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Bihar MP's Wife A Voter In 2 Separate Constituencies: Report
New Delhi: A Left MP from Bihar who challenged the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll in the Supreme Court has come under a cloud amid reports that his wife was registered as a voter in two separate Assembly constituencies with two distinct EPIC numbers, election office sources said on Sunday. Petitioner and Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation MP Sudama Prasad's wife, Shobha Devi, allegedly had two EPIC numbers – RGX3264140 and WVA0308544. While one of her EPIC numbers was registered in Arrah Assembly constituency with Lavarish Seva Kendra as the designated polling station, the other pertained to Agiaon constituency with Samudayik Bhavan Araila as her polling station, said sources in the Bihar election office. The fresh 'dual EPIC number' controversy comes close to the one involving Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav, who is also allegedly possessing 'dual' Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers. Earlier, the Supreme Court, while hearing a batch of pleas challenging the electoral roll revision ahead of the Assembly elections in November, posted the matter to August 12, assuring to intervene immediately if there is 'mass exclusion' of voters in the SIR. On Saturday, Tejashwi Yadav stirred a political storm in Patna with a claim that his name was missing in Bihar's draft electoral roll. ECI sources hinted that he might be possessing 'two' EPIC numbers, with only one of them being validated in the SIR. The election office on Sunday wrote to him seeking details of his 'second' EPIC number, which, according to him, had been deleted from the voter list. The Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) of Digha Assembly constituency asked the Leader of Opposition to present the original copy of the voter ID card whose number was alleged to be missing from the draft electoral roll. 'You are requested to kindly provide the details of the EPIC card (along with the original copy of the card) mentioned by you in the press conference held on August 2, 2025, to the undersigned, so that it can be thoroughly investigated,' wrote the ERO. The letter dated August 3 said the communication was linked to Tejashwi Yadav's 'statement given in the press conference held on August 2, 2025, regarding non-inclusion of names in the draft electoral list published on the basis of eligibility date July 1, 2025'. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
News18
03-08-2025
- Politics
- News18
INDIA Bloc Embarrassed in SIR Row: CPI(ML) MP's Wife Has 2 Voter IDs, Says EC Bihar SIR
INDIA Bloc Embarrassed in SIR Row: CPI(ML) MP's Wife Has 2 Voter IDs, Says EC | Bihar SIR | News18 Last Updated: India Videos | INDIA Bloc left red faced in S.I.R showdown, CPI (ML) MP Sudama Prasad's wife has 2 voter IDs according to EC sources INDIA Bloc under fire in the S.I.R (Special Intensive Revision) showdown!In a major embarrassment, EC sources reveal that CPI(ML) MP Sudama Prasad's wife allegedly holds two voter IDs. This revelation comes amid INDIA bloc's aggressive accusations of "vote chori" in tuned to CNN-News18 for exclusive updates and expert political analysis.
The Print
23-07-2025
- Politics
- The Print
CPI(ML) urges EC to stop SIR, cites ‘danger of mass disenfranchisement'
The delegation, comprising Rajaram Singh (MP, Karakat and CPI(ML) floor leader in the Lok Sabha), Sudama Prasad (MP, Ara), Shyam Chandra Chaudhary (secretary, Bihar State Committee) and Sanjay Sharma (central headquarters, CPI(ML), raised concerns about alleged procedural violations, exclusionary practices, and the danger of 'mass disenfranchisement of the poor, migrant, and young voters,' the party said. This was communicated to the EC by a delegation of the CPI(Marxist-Leninist) Liberation, who met Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the election commissioners and submitted a detailed memorandum expressing strong objections to the ongoing SIR exercise. New Delhi, Jul 22 (PTI) Mass disenfranchisement remains a 'very real danger' for the poor in Bihar in the ongoing SIR exercise, CPI(ML) Liberation told the Election Commission on Tuesday, urging it to withdraw the circular and conduct the forthcoming polls in the state on the basis of updated version of the electoral rolls used for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. In its memorandum, the CPI(ML) questioned the claims of BLOs coming across large numbers of foreign nationals from Bangladesh, Nepal and Myanmar in their house-to-house visits. They also questioned the figures of likely deletion from the rolls. 'Did the summary revision fail to note this and revise the rolls accordingly?' they asked. The party pointed out that though there is a provision for migrants to fill the form online, which was 'belatedly' pulicised in newspapers, many may not have access to information and internet facilities. They also said it is 'well known' that large numbers of electors do not have the documents mentioned in the EC's indicative list of eleven documents. 'On the basis of our experience of the first four weeks of the SIR drive in Bihar, we are afraid that mass disenfranchisement remains a very real danger for Bihar's poor, women, migrant workers and young electors, with all its alarming consequences,' the CPI(ML) said. 'We therefore once again urge the EC to withdraw the SIR circular and conduct the forthcoming Assembly elections of Bihar on the basis of a duly updated version of the electoral rolls used for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections,' they said. The EC, in its statement, said the meeting is in continuation of the interactions being held by ECI with the presidents of various national and state political parties. 'These interactions provide for a long-felt need of constructive discussions which enable national and state party presidents to share their suggestions and concerns directly with the commission,' it said. 'This initiative aligns with the commission's broader vision of further strengthening the electoral process in accordance with the existing legal framework with all stakeholders,' it said. The EC added that in March, a total of 4,719 all-party meetings were conducted, including 40 meetings by CEOs, 800 by DEOs, and 3879 by EROs, engaging over 28,000 representatives of various political parties. PTI AO MNK MNK This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Time of India
16-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
CPI(ML) to form federation for retail traders & vendors
Patna: The CPI(ML) has decided to organise retail traders and vendors in various cities in the state and form a state-level federation to raise their demands with the govt. "This initiative was taken by the party's Ara MP Sudama Prasad. He earlier formed a district-level body in Bhojpur and has now decided to expand it to the state level," said a CPI(ML) functionary. On Sunday, Prasad held a meeting in Patna attended by around 200 retail traders and vendors from 24 districts. According to a party communiqué, he told participants that a strong organisation was needed to take up their problems with the govt and administration. "First, the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes in 2016 and then the Covid pandemic broke the backbone of retailers and vendors," Prasad said. He cited rising prices, reduced purchasing power, unemployment and the spread of online shopping as key challenges. He also pointed to increased criminal activity and insecurity in marketplaces. A state-level meeting will be held in Patna next month to formally launch the Vyavsaee Mahasangh (state traders' federation). The CPI(ML) began efforts to organise traders after the pandemic. "The first unit was formed in Ara. Now, the state body will be set up with a focus on demanding a traders' protection commission," the functionary said.
