Another critical finding of the report was a significant drop in employment opportunities under MGNREGS compared to the previous year. The total number of person-days of employment fell from 184 crore last year to 154 crore this year, reflecting a 16.6% decline. Tamil Nadu and Odisha recorded the steepest declines in person-days generated, while Maharashtra and Himachal Pradesh saw increases.“This drop suggests not only a shrinking participation base but also a potential shortfall in the delivery of employment opportunities to those who need them most. Persistent implementation challenges, particularly with Aadhaar-based payments and worker eligibility for ABPS, continue to exacerbate these issues,” the report pointed out.The report further said that while there were marginal additions to the worker registry, these were overshadowed by the significant deletions, resulting in a net loss of 39 lakh workers during the period. “This raises concerns about the efficacy of the system, particularly in light of wrongful deletions, which further hinder access to employment under the scheme,” it added.The report also highlighted the suspension of MGNREGA works in West Bengal since December 2021. “The ongoing legal case in the Calcutta High Court further complicates the situation, emphasising the urgent need for intervention to restore the program’s functionality in the state,” it said. The report’s findings were sourced from official data on the MGNREGA website.
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