Context:- A recent analysis by Lib Tech India flagged a sudden and unprecedented rise in deletions from the MGNREGS worker database
About MGNREGA:-
Enacted in 2005, MGNREGA legally guarantees the “Right to Work.” It mandates 100 days of unskilled wage employment annually for every rural household with adult members willing to work, aiming to enhance livelihood security and economic stability in rural India.
Key Provisions
- Eligibility: Any rural household member aged 18+ willing to perform unskilled manual labor.
- Guaranteed Employment: Work must be provided within 15 days of application. If not, the applicant is entitled to an Unemployment Allowance.
- Worksite Proximity: Work is provided within a 5 km radius of the village. Employment beyond this distance attracts a travel allowance.
- Decentralized Planning: Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) are the primary implementing agencies. Gram Sabhas recommend works and must execute at least 50% of the projects.
- Accountability:
- Social Audits: Mandated under Section 17 to ensure community oversight and transparency.
- Wage Payment: Wages must be paid weekly (maximum delay of 15 days); delays attract compensation.
Evolution and Current Status :
- Scale & Impact: The scheme has generated over 31 billion person-days of employment and created 30 million water conservation assets since inception.
- Digital Reform: To ensure transparency, the government mandates geotagging of assets and digital attendance via the National Mobile Monitoring Software (NMMS) App.
- Fiscal Trend: Despite sustaining approximately 15 million daily workers, recent budgets indicate a declining allocation trend (reduced to ₹60,000 crore in 2023-24).
- Policy Convergence: Implementation is now integrated with schemes like PMAY and NRLM to optimize resource utilization.
