MGNREGA Wage Liability and Ward Population Check
In a Gram Panchayat of eight wards, the Census 2011 population is 6,400. Ward 3 contains 18% of the population and ward 6 contains 12%. The Panchayat has 1,120 active MGNREGA job-card holders. The approved labour budget is 45 days per household, and the notified wage rate is ₹220 per person-day. The Panchayat has received ₹1.65 crore for the year; 60% is earmarked for wages and 40% for material. A social audit finds that 784 workers have completed 45 days, while the remaining 336 workers have completed only 20 days. The Block Programme Officer asks the VDO to explain whether the wage allocation will be sufficient and which ward needs priority in the next labour budget.
1. Calculate the population of wards 3 and 6, and the average population of the remaining six wards.
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Ward 3: 18% of 6,400 = 0.18 × 6,400 = 1,152. Ward 6: 12% of 6,400 = 0.12 × 6,400 = 768. Population in the remaining six wards: 6,400 − 1,152 − 768 = 4,480. Average for those six wards: 4,480 ÷ 6 = 746.67, i.e. about 747 persons per ward. The calculation shows that wards 3 and 6 together account for 30% of the population, so ward-level targeting should not rely only on the number of job cards.
2. Calculate total person-days generated and the wage liability at ₹220 per person-day. Compare with the wage allocation and state the gap or surplus.
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Person-days from 784 workers at 45 days: 784 × 45 = 35,280. Person-days from 336 workers at 20 days: 336 × 20 = 6,720. Total person-days: 35,280 + 6,720 = 42,000. Wage liability: 42,000 × ₹220 = ₹92,40,000. Wage allocation: 60% of ₹1,65,00,000 = ₹99,00,000. Surplus: ₹99,00,000 − ₹92,40,000 = ₹6,60,000. So the wage allocation is sufficient for the employment already generated, leaving a surplus of ₹6.60 lakh, but that surplus is not enough to fund full 45 days for all remaining workers.
3. If the remaining 336 workers are to be given the full 45 days, what additional amount is needed, and what percentage of the current wage allocation does it represent?
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Each of the 336 workers needs 45 − 20 = 25 additional days. Additional person-days: 336 × 25 = 8,400. Additional wage amount: 8,400 × ₹220 = ₹18,48,000. The current wage allocation is ₹99,00,000. Percentage required: (18,48,000 ÷ 99,00,000) × 100 = 18.67% approximately. The existing surplus of ₹6,60,000 covers only part of this; the Panchayat would need about ₹11,88,000 more, or a revised labour budget, to provide 45 days to all remaining workers.