MGNREGA Worker Deletions

MGNREGA Worker Deletions

The past few years have witnessed a dramatic increase in the number of workers being deleted from MGNREGA job cards.

About MGNREGA

  • The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) stands as a cornerstone of India’s social security net.
    • It provides a legal guarantee of 100 days of work per year to every rural household. 
  • This right, enshrined in the Act and operationalized through job cards.has been increasingly undermined by a surge in worker deletions.

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About MGNREGA Job Cards

  • MGNREGA Job Cards are essential documents issued to rural households under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). 
  • These cards serve as a crucial tool for ensuring the implementation of the Act and guaranteeing the right to work for rural households.

Key Features of MGNREGA Job Cards

MGNREGA

  • Unique Identification: Each job card is assigned a unique identification number.
  • Household Details: Contains information about all adult members of the household eligible for work.
  • Work Eligibility: Entitles the cardholder to 100 days of guaranteed wage employment per year.
  • Wage Disbursement: Records the work done, wages earned, and payment details.
  • Monitoring Tool: Used to track work progress, monitor wage payments, and assess program implementation.
  • Issued by Gram Panchayat: Local self-government bodies are responsible for issuing MGNREGA job cards to eligible households within their jurisdiction.

MGNREGA and the Right to Work as a Step Towards DPSP

  • Legal Framework: MGNREGA provides a statutory right to work for rural households.
  • Job Guarantee: Ensures at least 100 days of wage employment in a financial year. 
    • Article 41 DPSP: Right to Work, Education and Public Assistance)
  • Wage Employment: Creates employment opportunities, especially during agricultural off-seasons. 
  • Social Security Net: Acts as a social safety net, particularly for marginalized communities. (
  • Asset Creation: Contributes to rural development through the creation of public assets like roads, ponds, and irrigation canals.
    • Article 43 DPSP: Living Wage, Conditions of Work.
  • Empowerment of Rural Women: Encourages women’s participation in the workforce.
    • Article 42 DPSP: Just and Humane Conditions of Work and Maternity Relief

Factors responsible for Rising Deletions

  • A staggering 10.43 crore workers have been removed over the last four years, with a particularly alarming spike in 2022-23. 
  • Reason for deletion: The implementation of Aadhaar-based payment systems in MGNREGA has been linked to the rise in worker deletions. 
  • Arbitrary Deletions: In a rush to achieve 100% Aadhaar seeding, field officials resorted to shortcuts, including deleting job cards of workers who could not be immediately linked to their Aadhaar numbers.
  • Lack of Transparency: The deletion process has often been marred by a lack of transparency and due process
    • Workers have been removed from job cards without proper notice or opportunity to be heard.
    • Reasons cited for deletion, such as “not willing to work” or “duplicate applicant,” often seem arbitrary and unsubstantiated.

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Impact on Rural Livelihoods

  • This trend is deeply concerning, as it directly impacts the livelihoods of millions of rural households.
  • The erosion of the right to work has severe consequences for rural livelihoods. 
  • Workers who are deleted from job cards are deprived of their legal entitlement to employment and social security. 
  • This can push vulnerable households into deeper poverty and food insecurity.

Restoring the Right to Work

  • Strengthening Accountability and Transparency: Implementing robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to track worker deletions and ensure adherence to due process.
  • Independent Audits: Conducting regular, independent audits of MGNREGA implementation to identify and rectify irregularities.
  • Empowering Gram Sabhas: Empowering Gram Sabhas to play a more active role in overseeing MGNREGA implementation and protecting the rights of workers.
  • Public Awareness and Grievance Redress: Raising awareness about the right to work and establishing effective grievance redress mechanisms.
  • Data-Driven Decision-Making: Leveraging technology and data analytics to improve MGNREGA implementation and identify trends in worker deletions.
Additional Reading: MGNREGA

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UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
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