The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) has revealed concerning statistics regarding the deletion of names of over five crore workers under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) during the financial year 2022-23. This represents a staggering 247% increase in deletions compared to the previous year. While the MoRD states that deletions are a regular exercise conducted by State governments, the reasons behind such a sharp rise in deletions warrant closer examination.
Understanding MGNREGA/MGNREGS
The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), also known as MGNREGS, is a landmark Indian legislation enacted in 2005. It provides a legal guarantee for one hundred days of employment in every financial year to adult members of any rural household willing to engage in public work-related unskilled manual labor at the statutory minimum wage. The primary objective of MGNREGS is to enhance the livelihood security of rural households by providing them with employment opportunities.
Exploring the MGNREGS Deletions
The recent revelation of over five crore deletions from the MGNREGS rolls during the fiscal year 2022-23 has raised eyebrows and concerns among policymakers and rural communities alike. The MoRD highlights that deletions are a routine process carried out by State governments. However, the drastic spike in deletions demands a more in-depth investigation into the underlying reasons.
Reasons for Deletions
State governments have listed five main reasons for the deletions from the MGNREGS program:
- Fake Job Card: Some beneficiaries were found to possess fraudulent job cards, indicating potential corruption and misuse of the scheme.
- Duplicate Job Card: Instances of individuals holding multiple job cards came to light, leading to their removal from the program.
- Not Willing to Work: Workers who expressed disinterest or were unwilling to participate in MGNREGS activities faced exclusion.
- Family Shifted Permanently: Beneficiaries whose families moved away from the respective Gram Panchayats permanently were removed.
- Deceased Beneficiaries: Cases where the job cardholder had passed away but their names remained on the rolls were rectified.
Regional Disparities in Deletions
The statistics indicate significant regional disparities in the deletions. West Bengal witnessed the highest surge in deletions, reporting a staggering increase of 5,199% during 2022-23. Following closely behind were Telangana (2727%) and Andhra Pradesh (1147%). The reasons behind these disproportionate figures warrant further investigation, as they could potentially point to discrepancies in the implementation and monitoring of the scheme across states.
Aadhaar Linkage and Deletions
There are growing speculations that the emphasis on linking MGNREGS job cards with Aadhaar cards and implementing wage payments through the Aadhaar-Based Payments System (ABPS) has contributed to the increasing number of deletions. Critics argue that the strict linkage might lead to exclusion errors and result in genuine beneficiaries losing their entitlements due to issues like Aadhaar authentication failures, biometric discrepancies, or other technical glitches.
Impact on Rural Employment and Livelihoods
The surge in deletions from the MGNREGS rolls raises concerns about its impact on rural employment and livelihoods. The MGNREGS has been a lifeline for many rural households, providing them with an opportunity to earn a minimum wage and escape the clutches of poverty. However, the significant increase in deletions might have unintended consequences, leaving many vulnerable households without access to the scheme’s benefits.
