Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (MGNREGA) mandate to provide at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year to every rural household.
Issues Highlighted by the committee
- High Pendencies: Total pending liabilities are ₹23,446.27 crore. It accounts for 27.26% of the current budget.
- Deletion of Job Cards: Around 50.31 lakh job cards were deleted in 2021-22 due to minor spelling errors or Aadhaar mismatches.
- Wage Issues: MGNREGA wages have failed to keep pace with inflation, falling below subsistence levels.
- Irregularities in Social Audit: Around 67% of planned gram panchayats were audited in 2024-25.
Recommendations given by the committee
- Survey: Independent and transparent survey across the country to gain valuable insights about the program’s shortcomings.
- Increase in compensation: The current compensation rate for delayed wages (0.05% of unpaid wages) should be increased to ensure timely remuneration for workers.
- Aadhaar Implementation: Aadhaar-Based Payment System can remain optional and alternative payment mechanisms should be made available.
- Strengthening social audit: Social Audit Calendar should be introduced by the Department of Rural Development to ensure regular audits.
New Initiatives under MGNREGA
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