MGNREGA_SAMEEKSHA

Governance and Process Challenges 61
Box 6.2
Management Information System (MIS)
In 2006–07, the physical and financial performance of MGNREGA was monitored through Monthly Progress Reports
(MPRs). The MPRs were mostly hard copies of progress reports passed from the GPs to the block to the district to
be entered online. These reports could not be drilled down beyond the level of the district which made it difficult to
monitor GP-wise performance, issues and expenditure.
The Management Information System (MIS) of the GoI was developed to ensure intensive and real time monitoring,
right upto the level of the GP.
MIS is arguably the largest online database for a public programme. At present there are 12 crore JCs (100 per cent
of the JCs on record) and 9 crore Muster Rolls uploaded on the MIS.
MIS captures all information on the beneficiary (including name, photograph, house location, etc.), works (attendance
of beneficiaries, location of work, person-days generated, etc.), expenditure (amount spent on material, amount spent
per work, etc.) and other processes and procedures (delays in registration, wage payment, etc.)
There has been an increased thrust from the government to ensure that the State governments move from physical
MPRs to real time MIS. For FY 2011–12, more than 90 per cent of the total expenditure (as compared to MPRs) is
available on MIS (including details of beneficiaries etc.).
All MIS information is in public domain and is available at the level of the individual beneficiary. In other words, this
information can be downloaded and cross verified in terms of work undertaken, payments made, etc.
Source: Ministry of Rural Development.
constraints. To ensure timely payment and
prevent misappropriations, the GoI mandated
that payments be made through bank and post
office accounts of beneficiaries (with certain
exceptions as approved by the GoI in advance).
As a result, over 10 crore post/bank office
accounts have been opened and 80 per cent of
the total wages are being paid through these.
Wage Payment Less than the Notified Wage
As Table 6.2 indicates, in some states, the average
wage is lower than the MGNREGA notified wage.
Studies quote different reasons for this:
• Since MGNREGA wages are mostly calculated
according to piece-rate (quantity of work output
in a day), in some states, due to non-revision of
SoRs, the average wage 33 per day is less than the
notified wage. 34
• Irregular supervision at worksites which results
in low productivity which in turn results in
lower wages. A field survey in Himachal Pradesh
indicated work productivity as a serious issue.
Factors responsible included, a high composition
of elderly men and women workers and nonuniform
division into groups † . 35
Delay in Payments
MGNREGA mandates that wage payment be made to
beneficiaries within 15 days of work being completed.
However, delays in payment have been recorded by
different studies across the country. Delays on wage
payments are a huge disincentive for beneficiaries who
seek employment under the Scheme. 36 It also dilutes
33
Average wage is calculated as the total expenditure on unskilled wages divided by the total number of person-days
generated
34
J. Dreze and R. Khera, The Battle for Employment Guarantee, New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2009, pp. 43–81.
†
Learning from the experience of the state of Rajasthan, several other states started the practice of dividing workers into small
groups at worksites and assigning them a definite work output. The measuring of the task is done group-wise. Evidence suggests
this helps in increasing participation and productivity.
35
Siddhartha and A. Vanaik, ‘CAG Report on NREGA: Facts & Fiction’, in The Battle for Employment Guarantee, ed. R. Khera,
New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2011, pp.105–27.
36
R. Khera, ‘Wage Payment: Live without Pay?’ in The Battle for Employment Guarantee, ed. R. Khera, New Delhi: Oxford
University Press, 2011, pp. 210–20.