11 Years Of Neglect Turning MGNREGA Lifeless: Congress Warns Govt

As the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), once celebrated as a vital lifeline for rural India, marked its 20th anniversary, the Congress party voiced strong criticism of the Narendra Modi government’s handling of the scheme. Rather than marking the occasion with celebration, Congress accused the government of deliberately starving MGNREGA of funds, turning its promise of dignity through work into a “hollow mockery.”

Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh expressed deep concern over the scheme’s uncertain future under the current administration. “Instead of celebrating the achievements of the world’s largest social welfare programme, India is forced to confront its very uncertain future under this government,” he said, highlighting the growing challenges faced by millions of rural workers who depend on MGNREGA for their livelihoods.

Ramesh pointed to troubling budgetary practices that cast doubt on the scheme’s sustainability. “The finance ministry’s rules cap expenditure for schemes at 60 per cent of the allocated budget in the first half of the fiscal year,” he explained. “The ministry has already blown through 60 per cent of its MGNREGA budget within just five months, raising doubts about what lies ahead for crores of rural families.” This rapid depletion of funds early in the fiscal year, he argued, signals a looming crisis for the programme.

According to Ramesh, this funding crunch is part of a broader effort by the Centre to “throttle” MGNREGA. “The scheme has been underfunded for the past 11 years, with allocations stagnant for three consecutive years despite high inflation,” he said. “This denies lakhs of workers employment at a time they need it most.” The failure to increase allocations in line with rising costs, he warned, undermines the very purpose of the scheme.

Beyond funding issues, Ramesh highlighted several operational problems that exacerbate the crisis. “Payments to workers are routinely delayed beyond the statutory 15-day period, without compensation,” he noted, pointing to the financial hardships faced by workers who rely on timely wages. He also revealed that “between 20–30 per cent of the budget each year is spent clearing pending dues from the previous year,” indicating inefficiencies in fund management.

Wages themselves have barely increased over the last decade, worsening the crisis of stagnant incomes. “The introduction of Aadhaar-Based Payment Systems (ABPS) and the National Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS) app has excluded over two crore workers, leaving them unable to access their legal entitlements,” Ramesh added, criticizing the use of technology that inadvertently marginalizes vulnerable workers.

In response to these challenges, Congress reiterated its demands for urgent reforms to safeguard MGNREGA’s future. “The government must significantly enhance the MGNREGA budget,” Ramesh insisted. “Strict adherence to timely wage payments must be enforced to protect workers’ livelihoods.” He also called for raising the minimum daily wage to Rs 400 to spur income growth among rural workers.

To ensure fair and transparent wage-setting, Ramesh urged the constitution of a Standing Committee dedicated to deciding MGNREGA wages in the future. He further demanded an immediate halt to the mandatory use of “exclusionary technologies” like ABPS and NMMS, which have left millions of workers out of the system.

“MGNREGA, a lifeline for rural India, is being deliberately weakened,” Ramesh warned. “The government’s neglect risks undermining not only livelihoods but also the vision of inclusive growth the scheme once represented.” His remarks underscored the urgent need for the government to recommit to the programme’s founding principles and ensure that it continues to provide meaningful employment and dignity to India’s rural poor.

As MGNREGA marks two decades since its enactment, the debate over its future remains critical. While the scheme has lifted millions out of poverty and provided a safety net during economic downturns, its sustainability depends on adequate funding, efficient implementation, and inclusive policies that reach all eligible workers. Congress’s critique serves as a reminder that without these measures, the promise of MGNREGA risks fading into a hollow echo of its original intent.