Context:
On April 4, 2025, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development, led by MP Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka, tabled a report evaluating the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). The committee has recommended significant reforms aimed at improving the effectiveness, equity, and efficiency of the scheme.
Key Recommendations
1. Independent Effectiveness Survey
- Purpose: To assess the impact and shortcomings of MGNREGS.
- Focus Areas:
- Worker satisfaction
- Wage payment delays
- Participation trends
- Financial irregularities
- Goal: Use the survey insights to recommend targeted policy reforms.
2. Promoting Equity and Inclusion
- Issue Identified: Uneven participation of women, SC, and ST workers across districts.
- Recommendation:
- Conduct a district-wise participation audit.
- Ensure equal access to work and benefits for marginalized communities.
- Align the scheme more closely with its goal of social and economic inclusion.
3. Expanding Guaranteed Workdays
- Current Provision: 100 days of guaranteed wage employment.
- Recommended Change: Increase to 150 days, considering present-day economic and livelihood challenges.
4. Wage Payment Reforms
- Problem Identified: Chronic delays in wage disbursal.
- Recommendations:
- Enhance compensation rates for delayed payments.
- Ensure timely and predictable disbursement to maintain worker trust and continuity in project execution.
Broader Implications
- The panel’s recommendations highlight the need for modernization of MGNREGS in light of emerging rural challenges.
- A robust survey and improved monitoring can enhance transparency and accountability, making the scheme more responsive and equitable.
- Increasing the number of workdays and ensuring wage reliability can strengthen rural livelihoods, especially for vulnerable populations.
The Standing Committee’s report makes a compelling case for data-driven reforms in MGNREGS, emphasizing inclusive participation, wage security, and program modernization. If implemented, these recommendations could significantly improve rural employment outcomes and reinforce the scheme’s role as a social safety net in India.
