Visakhapatnam: The latest report by LibTech India highlights significant challenges in implementing the MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) in Andhra Pradesh during the fiscal year 2024–25.Even though household registrations increased by 3.1 per cent, provision of work and wage realisation revealed worrying trends. A key finding of LibTech is that the number of person-days generated fell by 5.2 per cent, signalling reduced work opportunities despite stable participation. Alarmingly, the percentage of households completing 100 days of work dropped from 14.8 per cent to 10.9 per cent, compared to the national decline from 7.5 per cent to 7 per cent. Average employment per household decreased by 6 per cent, reflecting an erosion in availability of work in the state. District-level disparities add complexity; 17 of Andhra Pradesh’s 26 districts reported a decline in person-days, with Vizianagaram seeing the steepest drop at 17.8 per cent. In contrast, the Sri Sathya Sai district recorded an 18.2 per cent rise. Drought-affected districts like Prakasam and Kurnool failed to show expected gains, raising questions about the government’s responsiveness to rural distress. The mid-year employment crash following a Ministry of Rural Development advisory in May 2024 compounded challenges. Though later months indicated recovery, it did not offset early-year setbacks. The gap between notified and realised wages widened to 14 per cent, with unpaid dues being ₹661 crore. Average household income dropped by ₹294, further straining rural livelihoods. LibTech India underlined that addressing these systemic issues is crucial for Andhra Pradesh to fully realise the potential of MGNREGA as a safety net for vulnerable communities. Incidentally, LibTech India is an organisation dedicated to enhancing public service delivery in India, focusing on transparency and accountability. It engages in initiatives such as monitoring the implementation of MGNREGA, analysing data for actionable insights, advocating for worker-centric policies, and highlighting the need for transparency, wage reforms and equitable participation.
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