Demand under rural jobs scheme seen 27% lower in FY25
The rural development ministry has pegged the 2024-25 person-day generation target (called labour budget) at 2.21 billion under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), down 27% from the actual level in the previous fiscal. Key Points
Economic TimesPMAY drives up MGNREGS wage costs
MGNREGS wages of about ₹35,000-40,000 crore are estimated to have gone into the construction of houses under the PMAY (Gramin) since the scheme was rolled out in November 2016 by revamping the erstwhile India Awas Yojana, said the person. House construction has picked up pace in the last two years, pushing up the MGNREGS wage costs on such an account. Key Points
Economic TimesAdditional payments being approved for MGNREGS, no shortage of funds: Union minister Giriraj Singh
The Union Rural Development Minister, Giriraj Singh, has dismissed criticisms of the Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) not being given sufficient funds, stating that additional allocations will be sanctioned and there will be no shortage of funds. Singh also alleged large-scale corruption under the scheme in West Bengal and confirmed that a probe will be undertaken. Key Points
Economic TimesFinance Ministry releases additional ₹3.4kcr for rural jobs guarantee scheme
MGNREGS received additional ₹3,400 crore, raising total allocation to ₹89,400 crore. Person-days exceeded targets. 10% wage hike during 8.4% growth. 'Below normal' 2023 monsoon affected work demand projections. Key Points
Economic TimesMGNREGS wages raised by up to 10.4% for FY24
In absolute terms, the daily wages have been raised in the ₹7-26 range, according to a notification by the rural development ministry. The increase assumes significance, as the MGNREGS rates serve as the benchmark for rural wages and influence the rise in industrial wages as well. Key Points
Economic Times
NREGS may get Rs 28,000 cr more, over and above budgeted Rs 60,000 cr
Nearly 95% of the budgetary allocation for FY24 has already been released. The additional funds will be included in the first batch of supplementary demands for grants and will bring the total outlay for the scheme closer to last year's level of ₹90,000 crore. The government aims to maintain its fiscal deficit target of 5.9% of GDP by cutting wasteful expenditures and reallocating savings. Key Points
Economic TimesCentre makes Aadhaar-linked pay mandatory for MGNREGS workers, over 1.78 cr ineligible to seek work
Refusing to extend implementation deadline for 5th time, govt says exemption will be given in case of technical snag or Aadhaar-related issue. Congress calls decision 'cruel, anti-poor'. Key Points
ThePrintWith Rs 86,000-cr for FY25, MNREGS budget sees no change from 2023-24 revised estimate as polls loom
FY25 allocation is exactly the same outlay as given in revised estimates for the current financial year. Activists say it's not sufficient to meet demand for work in rural areas. Key Points
ThePrintWork demand under rural jobs scheme rises in H1
About 93% of the FY24 budgetary allocation of ₹60,000 crore for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) has been released, a person familiar with the details told ET. This has prompted the rural development ministry to seek substantial supplementary demands for funds to run the scheme throughout this fiscal year, he said. Key Points
Economic TimesUP, MP to Assam, several districts have no MGNREGS ombudsperson to address workers’ grievances
Over 170 districts in India don't have an ombudsperson, a mandatory requirement under the job guarantee scheme. In some states, 1 ombudsperson allotted for 2 districts, it is learnt. Key Points
ThePrint
Demand for work under rural jobs scheme eases in key June quarter
Person-days generated under the scheme totalled 1.11 billion during the first quarter of this fiscal year, against about 1.14 billion and 1.16 billion in the corresponding quarters of FY23 and FY22, respectively, according to an analysis by the rural development ministry.Suspension of MGNREGS work in West Bengal following alleged fund diversion contributed to the decline, experts said. Key Points
Economic TimesBudget 2024: Rural jobs scheme may get 47% higher outlay of Rs 88,000 crore
In the upcoming interim budget for FY25, the Indian government is expected to allocate around ₹88,000 crore for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), compared to the budgeted ₹60,000 crore for the current fiscal year. The allocation may increase if demand exceeds initial expectations. Key Points
Economic TimesDeadline for using Aadhaar-based payment system for MGNREGS workers extended
Deadline for using Aadhaar-based payment system for MGNREGS workers extended by three months till June 30. Earlier, it had given one extension till March 31. Key Points
The HinduGovt panel suggests sharp hike in NREGS wage rates, budgetary outlay
A high-level government panel, tasked with recommending changes to make the rural job guarantee scheme more effective, has called for a significant increase in the extant wage rates--over and above the recent annual hike--and the budgetary allocation for the programme. The report was submitted with the rural development ministry in July and is yet to be made public. Key Points
Economic TimesHigh deletion of names from MGNREGS rolls in poll-bound MP, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh — NGO report
LibTech India analysed MGNREGS data for first 6 months of this fiscal & found net deletion of 80 lakh workers' names. Deletions highest in UP, while poll-bound Telangana saw increase. Key Points
ThePrint
Work demand under MGNREGS expected to decline 27% in FY24
The government has budgeted ₹60,000 crore under the scheme for FY24, lower than the budget estimate of ₹73,000 crore and revised estimate of ₹89,400 crore for FY23. However, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman has stated that more funds would be allocated for the scheme if required. Key Points
Economic TimesMGNREGS wage hike just, based on Consumer Price Index for Agricultural Labour: Govt source
MGNREGS wage hike based on CPI-AL at 7.7%. New rates announced by Rural Development Ministry. Gujarat, MP, Andhra Pradesh see higher increases. West Bengal wages above many. Congress criticizes rates below Shramik NYAY guarantees. Key Points
Economic TimesUncertainty over release of MGNREGS funds for Bengal as tussle with Centre goes on
In December 2021, the Centre invoking a clause in MGNREGS stopped funds for West Bengal. Out of ₹7,500 crores that it owes to the State, ₹2,744 cores account for just labour wages. Key Points
The HinduSpending under rural jobs scheme up 4% in 2023-24
Total expenditure under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) - including states' contribution for materials used in the work - stood at Rs 1.05 lakh crore in 2023-24, against Rs 1.01 lakh crore in the previous year, showed preliminary data compiled by the rural development ministry. Erratic monsoon reduced the typical large-scale migration of workers to farm activities in the second quarter of the financial year, experts said. Key Points
Economic TimesNREGS outlay for FY24 may see steep hike with 58% used in Q1
The Centre may have to sharply increase the outlay for its flagship rural job guarantee scheme, with 58% of the budgeted Rs 60,000 crore for 2023-24 used up in the first quarter itself, an official indicated. Almost steady work demand and up to 10.4% hike in wage rates under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) have kept expenditure under the programme elevated, the official told ET on condition of anonymity. Key Points
Economic Times