No.885/EGS C/16/REGS Mahatma Gandhi NREGA State Mission

First Floor, Punarjani,

Panavila, Thiruvananthapuram

Dated 31.3.2017

CIRCULAR

Sub: - Mahatma Gandhi NREGA 2017 - 18 – Implementation Strategy Reg

` Ref: - 1. Government of India letter No H – 12020/02/2017/MGNREGA-

VIII (Part) dated 23.3.2017

2. Circular No 279/DD2/2016/LSGD Dated 5.10.2016

During the year 2017 18, certain objective goals are set to provide meticulous planning in

the utilization of the Person days as follows: -

1.Person Day Generation 2017 18: Government of India, as per the letter referred above

issued the minutes of the meeting of the Empowered Committee to consider the Labour

Budget of the State for the Financial Year 2017 18. As per Para 3 of the minutes, it is

informed that the Empowered Committee agreed to the Labour Budget of 450 Lakh

Person days (PDs) for Financial year 2017 18 for the State of Kerala. As such, the district

wise allocation of the approved LB was reworked after normalizing the approved LB

over the forecasted LB by the districts as follows

S No. District Approved LB

1 Alappuzha 3951000

2 Ernakulam 3015000

3 Idukki 3676500

4 Kannur 2142000

5 Kasargod 2502000

6 Kollam 4189500

7 Kottayam 1507500

8 Kozhikode 4099500

9 Malappuram 2893500

10 Palakkad 4959000

11 Pathanamthitta 1854000

12 Thiruvananthapuram 5134500

13 Thrissur 2866500

14 Wayanad 2209500

Total 45000000

The Districts may always come up with a proposal for the revision of the LB, at any point

of time of the year, if the performance of the district exceeds the agreed to LB

2. Mission Water Conservation: The Ministry also requested to adhere to the

Guidelines of the NRM component of the Labour Budget in blocks identified under

Mission Water Conservation. As per the MIS, the No of Works and the Person Days

requested in the three Mission Water Conservation Blocks for NRM Components is as

follows.

Mission Water Conservation Block NRM Component of LB in Blocks

identified under Mission Water

Conservation

No. of Works Estimated PD

Chittur 1511 1400495

Malampuzha 1441 484560

Palakkad District Sub Total 2952 1885055

Kasaragod 163 86086

Grand Total 3115 1971141

3. Apportionment of Person Days in Districts/Blocks/GPs: Hence, the District

Programme Coordinators/Joint Programme Coordinators of Palakkad and Kasaragod are

instructed to earmark the estimated PD first to the Mission Water Conservation Blocks

and thereafter apportion the balance to other blocks. In the case of allocation of Person

Days, the Districts may follow the same principle adopted by the State Mission. The

districts shall recalculate the eligibility of each block on the basis of the revised allocation

made as per table 1 above. In the same manner, all blocks may be requested to apportion

their allocation GP wise

4. Ensuring that Assets of good quality are created: In the Circular referred as second

paper above, it was stipulated that the works proposed for the FY 2017 18 prepared in the

map of the ward shall be presented in the Grama Sabha by the Agricultural Officer.

Hence, the all new works projected in the GP shall be available in the ward map. Further,

estimates also become available to the Programme Officer. Hence the PO should verify

each and every estimate and ensure that the work is in accordance with Schedule I and

are asset generating. Musters shall be issued only for such works which satisfy the

conditions laid down in amended Schedule I. The BDO/BPO should not issue MRs for

works which are non tangible, immeasurable and repetitive works such as agricultural

operations, grass removal etc. It may be noted that any violation of the above stipulations

will attract the provisions of Sec 25 of the Act and will be viewed seriously.

5. Focal Areas: The targets taken up by the State as noted by the Ministry under the focal

areas are as follows

Sl.

No. Type of Work

Spillover of FY

16-17 if any

Commitments

for FY 17-18 Total

1 Farm Ponds 3000 5000 8000

2 Vermi/NADEP Composting 81000 70000 151000

3 Anganwadi Centres 717 283 1000

4 Road Side Plantation (in Km) 644 3000 3644

5 Block Plantation 0 500 500

6 IHHL* 32559 9045 41604 *targets may be revised

In the year 2016 17, the performance of the district was not satisfactory. Hence, in the

current year all out efforts should be taken at the district level early to implement the

focal area interventions in an orderly manner so that completion of all targets can be

achieved and can be reported in the MIS. In this regard,

The State Mission in association with HARITAKERALAM and Suchitwa

Mission already started implementing the construction of Compost pits in a

concerted manner so that the works can be completed before the 2017

monsoon.

Construction of Anganwadies should start at the earliest since this activity is

suitable in the rainy season. The implementation of construction of AWC is

now conceived with better clarity by the Government Orders issued. Since

buildings are constructed and normally it takes more time, implementation

should start well in advance.

Government of India informed States that under IHHL, construction of spill

over houses taken up under IAY and PMAY shall be automatically included in

the focal areas

Farm ponds, needless to say, shall be taken up before the monsoon. Such

works should be implemented without interruption. In no case, such works

should spill to the monsoon season.

Tree plantation can be taken up on Forest lands, Waste lands, Public and

community lands, pasture lands, along riverside, canals & embankments,

along PMGSY roads & other roads and Private lands (block plantation or on

bunds of agricultural fields).Plantation can be linear or block depending on the

site requirements. Road Side Tree Plantation should also be planned in such a

way that order for procuring saplings. The plantation works may cover the

cost of planting materials, labour for digging pits and planting, fertilizers

(preferably organic), materials for watering, protection and maintenance of

plants for 3-5 years (depending on the species). Due permission of owner of

the land/ concerned department should be taken before taking up plantation on

their land. Monthly payments are based on survival of plants and

accomplishment of notified tasks. Wherever plantation is done on community

lands, the usufructs benefits of these plants, preferably upto 200 trees, may be

allocated to para 5 households.

6. Panchayat Focal Areas: In the same manner, each Grama Panchayat shall identify 4 –

5 numbers of Panchayat Focal Areas (PFA) annexed (See Annexure I) in such a way that at

least 75% of their works are taken up and completed from the PFA. It may be noted that once

the GP selects the PFA, no further change of the focal area identified in the FY will be

entertained. However, the list can be revisited in case of unforeseen natural calamities in the

GP. The Grama Panchayat after selection shall intimate their PFA to the PO. The list from

the block shall reach JPC who in turn shall hand over the list to the State Mission. This

exercise will provide sectoral intervention of MGNREGA district wise. The exercise shall be

completed by the JPCs and the list {See Annexure I (A), (B) and ( C ) } may be handed over

to the State Mission not later than 20.4.2017

7. Work Completion: The status of completion of works in the State is as follows:

Financial Year

No. of Works

taken-up

Works Completed

Numbers Percentage

Till FY 2014-15 760161 751542 98.87

Till FY 2015-16 984142 938738 95.38

Till FY 2016-17 (as on date) 1170735 970904 82.93

As on 30.3.2017, up to the FY 2015 16, Forty Thousand Nine Hundred and Nine (40909)

works are remaining incomplete out of the works taken up since inception till 31st March,

2016. JPCs should initiate a drive to ensure that all works taken up till 31.03.2016 should

be completed by 30.06.2017. The JPCs will also examine reasons for large number of

incomplete works and make efforts for completing all incomplete works (190963) by

31.12.2017 without fail. To take up a drive for work completion, Joint Programme

Coordinators should prepare a Plan of Action to complete works taken up till 31.3.2016

(40909 numbers at the State level) and completion of works taken up till FY 2016 17(

190963 numbers at the State level) and submit it to Mission Director on or before

10.4.2017. District wise details are annexed (Annexure II)

8. Delay in Payment of Wages: In the FY 2016-17, as on 30.3.2017, 26.01% of wage

payments are delayed. This is a matter of concern and the districts needs to chalk out its

strategy for minimizing the delay in payments. The strategy, so chalked out, will be

shared to the Mission Director within 15th

of April 2017. Government of India has

informed all States that Reduction in Delay payment considerably is the priority area in

the year 2017 18. However, if the situation of delay payment does not improve

considerably, Government of India alert that it may adversely impact the release of funds

in future. Hence, every district should device their own monitoring methods to

operationalise at least 85% of the wages paid timely by 30.06.2017. The district wise

delay rate is annexed (Annexure III). In this regard, the PO can use the dates entered in

the Muster issue Register and verify whether such Musters are entered on the T+6th

day

(As per Circular No 66791/DD2/14/LSGD Dated 6.2.2015) and ensure that the musters

are returning back from work sites in the stipulated time period and processes are under

way as envisaged.

9. Geo MGNREGA: Every asset that gets completed in FY 2017-18 has to be

mandatorily geo-tagged within one month of its completion. As on 30.03.2017, the State

generated 4, 31,436 numbers of Assets IDs against 9, 70,904 numbers of works

completed since inception of the programme. 232704 number of assets have been

accepted and geotagged. There is no GP where no MSE registered and zero GPs where

MSE registered by no geo tagging done. Hence, all districts shall ensure that the

photograph of the completed work will be geo tagged within 30 days from the date of

completion.

10. Mission Water Conservation and DIP: There are 03 blocks – Chittur, Malampuzha

& Kasaragod - that have been identified as Mission Water Conservation Blocks. At least

65% of the expenditure in these blocks should be on NRM related works in FY 2017-18

and the NRM component of the LB should be part of District Irrigation Plan (DIP). The

Joint Programme Coordinators of Palakkad and Kasaragod shall discuss this matter with

the Principle Agricultural Officer of the districts so as to revisit the works to be taken up

under NRM and make them part of DIP in these Blocks before 10.4.2017

11. Individual Assets: In order to strengthen the livelihood resource base of the rural

poor, it is desirable to put adequate emphasis on creation of Productive individual assets

of prescribed Durability for vulnerable rural households.

12. Conditions for taking Road Works: In the case of roads, the standard specification

as laid down by Government of India in the advisory no P-17026/2015-RC dated:

17.11.2016 for all non – PMGSY roads will be strictly adhered by the districts. .

13. Maintenance of 7 Registers: As per the MIS, all GPs have adopted all the seven

registers. However, JPCs should randomly check the maintenance of these registers at the

GPs to ensure proper up keep and proper entries. The adoption of 7 Registers will be

subject for verification by the Social Audit teams and NLMs.

14. Direct Benefit Transfer: In the districts in the State, as of now, 22, 92,331 numbers

(99%) of active workers have their accounts seeded into Mahatma Gandhi NREGA soft.

Out of the seeded accounts, 20, 05,805 numbers (87.51%) have been converted into

Aadhaar Based Payment System (ABPS). All JPCs should endeavor to bring every

Mahatma Gandhi NREGA workers into ABPS fold by 30.06.2017.

15. SECC Survey of Landless Manual Casual Labourers: The State has 19.16 Lakh

deprived household as per SECC data. Out of this, 12, 15,499 numbers are landless

household depending on manual casual labour. Special drive in the year 16 17 to survey

these deprived households and link them to Mahatma Gandhi NREGA has resulted into

registration of 9343 number of households, who were willing for Job Cards as on

16.03.2017 in FY 2016-17. The districts should make special endeavors to complete the

survey at the earliest as well as issue job cards to all willing households dependent upon

manual casual labour by 31.07.2017 without fail.

16. Bare Foot Technicians: In the Financial Year 2017 18, the State has to train

additional 150 number of persons under BFT training project. Hence all districts can

intimate their requirement to the State Mission. The criteria for proposing BFTs should

be based on expenditure and accessibility. Those GPs having high expenditure but only

having the maximum number of 6 staff and GPs which are inaccessible can propose for

BFT training and deployment in the year 2017 18.

17. Project LIFE: In the case of PROJECT LIFE, the target for FY 2017-18, component

wise are as follows:

Skilling for Wages 1000

Skilling for Self Employment 500

Livelihood up gradation 3500

18. Audit of Accounts: The Audit of accounts for the year 2016 17, right from the

Grama Panchayat level should start from 15.5.2017 so that the Audits of the Districts will

get completed by 30.6.2017. The timelines may be followed strictly so that timely claims

can be submitted to Government of India

19. Status of Job Cards: A random verification of the maintenance of Job Cards

revealed that they are not properly maintained even after the State reported more than

95% of Job Card Verification. This matter was also reiterated by the Central Team while

they visited Kerala in the month of March 2017. Fresh Job Cards with critical

information like photographs, Individual Workers Bank account Number, Aadhaar and

SECC TIN (Wherever applicable) should be provided to all Job Card Holders.

20. Citizen Information Boards: The Citizen Information Board at the worksites should

be strictly followed. The boards should be durable with adequate information made of

Cement and concrete of standardized dimensions. It is further reminded that the cost of

the board can be booked under the material component of the work. Critical information

like start and end date of work, estimated cost, name of the GP, work details,

employment details, Labour Material Ratio etc in the Local Language should be installed

on each MGNREGA worksite without fail. Right from 1.4.2017, geo tagged photographs

of works completed with the Citizen Information Boards should be uploaded

21. Convergence of MGNREGA with other Schemes: Each District should develop

convergent projects that help in generating assets and can be showcased. The districts in

association with line departments can develop themes in project mode. PMKSY, SBM

(Rural), Jalanidhi (CCDU), Coffee Board, Kerala State Bamboo Mission, Coir

Department/Corporation etc are some agencies and Agriculture, Animal Husbandry,

Scheduled Castes Development, Scheduled Tribes Development, Dairy, Fisheries,

Forests and Wild Life, General Education etc are some of the Line Departments through

which Convergence can be realized. The HARITAKERALA MISSION is the flag ship

initiative to ensure convergence of various schemes and the District level Advisory

Committee shall play a pivotal role in actively forging alliance with the District

HARITAKERALA MISSION

22. Capacity Building: The Capacity Building for 2017 18 is planned in two types of

training

1. Crash training program for all stakeholders directly responsible for addressing

the core issues in implementation of the scheme, like selection and identification of

NRM works, generation of productive assets, its implementation in watershed

base; Basic of material procurements etc.

2. Technical training to accredited engineers and overseers focusing on NRM

works.

In addition to the above intensive training to Data Entray Operators on MIS, data

analysis and report generation etc.

23. Wall Paintings: One of the most effective and popular methods to raise awareness

among the people is through wall painting which may be given utmost importance as

tool for the dissemination of knowledge related with MGNREGA. Details of

MGNREGS can be exhibited in all the offices of Panchayats and other offices which are

frequently visited by the common people. Also, Anganwadis and schools could be

utilized for this purpose. Templates for wall writings will be shared by State Mission

with the districts. During the current year, each GP should have Wall Writings in

prominent places and the plan of action and cost may be worked out and intimated to the

State office not later than 20.4.2017

24. Engaging Mates: Para 4.1.2 of the Operational Guidelines lays down that at least one

mate should be present for every fifty workers. The remuneration of an independent

mate should be based on person-days of her work, calculated at a wage rate equal to that

of a semi-skilled labour and should be included in the cost estimate under the material

component of the scheme.

25. Issue of Musters: From 1st of April 2017, it’s mandatory for the Block Programme

Officers to sign and issue the E musters. The system of delegating this authority to the

Joint BDOs should not be resorted to

26. Prudence in demand entry, work allocation and Muster Generation: In the year 2016

17, laxity in monitoring demand entry, work allocation and muster generation resulted in

many workers losing the opportunity to work 100 days. Excess demand generation,

allocating work to the corresponding demand without generating musters and musters

not getting generated as per the allocation resulted in workers losing their right to get

Annexure I

Mahatma Gandhi NREGA 2017 18 New 7 Focal Areas

1. Water conservation & irrigation

a) Drinking Water - Construction of Public Well – Private Wells – Well Recharge

– Parapet Wall for Wells - Recharge Pits – Soak Pits

b) Treatment of rivulet/Brooks/creeks Check Dam – Gully Plugging – Deepening

– Side Protection – Underground Dyke – Gabion Structures across

c) Pond – De siltation of traditional public water bodies – Renovation of traditional

water bodies - Construction of new pond in public places – Construction of farm

ponds in private land – Mini Percolation tanks – Sunken Pond - Strengthening

embankment of Traditional Water Bodies - Excavation of Ponds for pisciculture

d) Irrigation Canals - Construction of Canal, distributaries and minor, Lining of

Canals, Rehabilitation of Minors, sub minors

e) Flood Control - Construction of Intermediate and Link Drains - Construction of

Storm Water Drains - Deepening and repair of flood channels - Drainage in

Water logged Areas - Strengthening of Embankments

2. Eco Restoration, Afforestation & Allied activities

a) Afforestation – Nursery Raising – Plantation in Government Premises – Belt

Vegetation – Block Plantation – Avenue Plantation (RSTP) - Grass land

Development and Silvipasture – Plantation (Horti , Arecanut, Rubber, Coconut,

Bamboo etc) – Social Forestry - Sericulture

b) Forest Works – Eco Restoration of Forests – Water Bodies in Forests – Forest

Civil Constructions – Afforestation – Forest Protection – Plantation

c) Cattle Shed

d) Goat/Piggery Shed

e) Poultry Shed

3. Land development & Allied activities

a) Land Development – Stone Terracing – Earthen Bunding – Stone Bund –

Development of Waste Land – Land Leveling – Trenches of various types

b) Intervention in the Individual Land for Land Development – Land leveling,

Shaping, Development of Waste Land/Fallow Land, Reclamation of

Saline/Alkaline Soil – Contour Bunds

4. Housing, Public buildings & Roads

a) Housing

b) Construction of Anganwadi Centres

c) Local Buildings – Panchayat Buildings – Village Haats – Cyclone Shelters –

Crematoria - Kitchen shed for mid day meal in school – Elevated Platform for water

kiosks

d) Food grain storage Facility - Post Harvest Facility/Pacca Storage for agricultural

produce - Infra structure or Bio Fertiliser/Liquid Bio Manure

e) Roads – Cement Concrete – Brick/Stone Road – Cross Drainage – Gravel Road –

Cement interlocking roads - WBM

5. Sanitation related activities

a) Compost in Private Land – Vermi/Nadep/Berkeley

b) Individual Household Toilets

c) Public Toilets for Schools & Anganwadis

6. Common infrastructure

a) Play Grounds – Common Ground – Football Ground – Basket Ball Ground – Volley

Ball Ground – Ball Badminton Ground – Kho Kho Ground – Government school

compound wall

7. Production activities

a) Work shed for livelihood activities for SHGs

b) Fisheries – Excavation of Ponds – Fish Drying Yards

c) Production of Building Materials

Annexure I (A)

Panchayat level Report on PFA 2017 18

Name of GP -

Block –

District

Sl No

Name of Major Focal

Area

(Use the correct name) Sub Category

Number of

Works

identified for

2017 18

Approximate

Expenditure

expected

(Rs in Lakh)

1

2

3

4

5

6

Sub Total

Other Works -

Grand Total

Grama Panchayat Secretary

Annexure I(B)

Block level Consolidated Report on PFA 2017 18

Name of Block –

District

Sl No

Name of Focal Area

(Use the correct name)

Sub

Category

Number of

Works

identified for

2017 18

Approximate

Expenditure

expected

(Rs in Lakh)

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10*

Sub Total

Other Works

Grand Total *Add more rows if needed

Block Programme Officer

Annexure I (C )

District level Consolidated Report on PFA 2017 18

Name of District

Sl No

Name of Focal Area

(Use the correct name)

Sub

Category

Number of

Works

identified for

2017 18

Approximate

Expenditure

expected

(Rs in Lakh)

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14*

Sub Total

Other Works

Grand Total *Add more rows if needed

Joint Programme Coordinator

ANNEXURE II

Work completion status

Works up to 2015 16

Sl No District Started Completed Balance Work Completion Rate 1 Alappuzha 88754 86388 2366 97.33

2 Ernakulam 91258 89718 1540 98.31

3 Idukki 79466 77331 2135 97.31

4 Kannur 53121 50801 2320 95.63

5 Kasargod 50507 47298 3209 93.65

6 Kollam 72331 68262 4069 94.37

7 Kottayam 49365 47864 1501 96.96

8 Kozhikode 68019 62216 5803 91.47

9 Malappuram 63262 59692 3570 94.36

10 Palakkad 100082 94690 5392 94.61

11 Pathanamthitta 45979 44966 1013 97.80

12 Thiruvananthapuram 102572 99257 3315 96.77

13 Thrissur 81362 80192 1170 98.56

14 Wayanad 41809 38303 3506 91.61

Total 987887 946978 40909 95.86

Works up to 2016 17

Sl No District Started Completed Balance Work Completion Rate

1 Alappuzha 113238 94443 18795 83.40

2 Ernakulam 108130 96332 11798 89.09

3 Idukki 100649 82122 18527 81.59

4 Kannur 62570 54276 8294 86.74

5 Kasargod 62964 51055 11909 81.09

6 Kollam 86329 69828 16501 80.89

7 Kottayam 58292 51068 7224 87.61

8 Kozhikode 79738 64240 15498 80.56

9 Malappuram 75393 62626 12767 83.07

10 Palakkad 118880 96556 22324 81.22

11 Pathanamthitta 57036 47785 9251 83.78

12 Thiruvananthapuram 120251 104069 16182 86.54

13 Thrissur 97946 86610 11336 88.43

14 Wayanad 50772 40215 10557 79.21

Total 1192188 1001225 190963 83.98

ANNEXURE III

Delay in Payment of Wages: Status as on 30.3.2017

District

Total Delayed Payment

Total Payment For

Financial Year2016-2017

Percentage

of Delay

Percentage

of

transactions

delayed Total

Transactions

Amount

Involved

Total

Transactions

Amount

Involved

Alappuzha 243233 2628.62 1617970 17775.64 14.79 15.03

Ernakulam 107324 1060.76 868393 8382.08 12.66 12.36

Idukki 355347 4170.77 989347 11589.12 35.99 35.92

Kannur 157111 1523.97 620038 5984.06 25.47 25.34

Kasargod 241374 2539.72 727771 7592.77 33.45 33.17

Kollam 365446 3775.41 1346016 13573.68 27.81 27.15

Kottayam 106274 1078.66 527140 5288.92 20.39 20.16

Kozhikode 341953 3553.83 1257520 12928.67 27.49 27.19

Malappuram 229964 2439.21 880349 9172.7 26.59 26.12

Palakkad 513574 5451.09 1567617 16405.15 33.23 32.76

Pathanamthitta 169104 1805.3 557280 5934.89 30.42 30.34

Thiruvananthapuram 758016 8145.63 2307291 24752.2 32.91 32.85

Thrissur 139100 1444.23 997543 10072.39 14.34 13.94

Wayanad 124163 1258.26 775660 7717.98 16.30 16.01

Total 3851983 40875.46 15039935 157170.3 26.01 25.61