NEW DELHI: Less than 8% of households availing MGNREGA benefits could access the guaranteed 100 days of work over the past three financial years, a government presentation to a parliamentary committee revealed. On average, households received around 50 days of employment during this period.
The data, shared by the Ministry of Rural Development, showed strong participation from SC/STs and women, exceeding their population share. In the ongoing fiscal year, SC/STs accounted for over 36% of beneficiaries, while women made up 56%, figures consistent with the last three years.
Average employment per household in the current year stands at 36 days, expected to rise as the year progresses. Over the past three years, participation included approximately 5.8 crore families in 2024–25, nearly 6 crore in 2023–24, and 6.2 crore in 2022–23. Of these, only 40.7 lakh (7%), 45 lakh (7.5%), and 36 lakh (5.8%) families received the full 100 days, respectively.
During committee discussions, Congress members criticized funding cuts and delays in wage disbursement, while BJP members highlighted financial irregularities in certain states.
The government acknowledged monitoring gaps in MGNREGA, such as unrecorded work on the ground, mismatches between expenditure and physical progress, use of machines in labour-intensive tasks, and bypassing of digital attendance systems. The new VB-G RAM G law aims to address these issues, strengthening the legislative and implementation framework for rural employment.
The committee, chaired by Congress MP Saptagiri Ulaka, focused primarily on MGNREGA, after earlier agenda items comparing it with the VB-G RAM G Act prompted debate.
In related deliberations, the parliamentary defence committee discussed resettlement and healthcare for ex-servicemen. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi highlighted challenges faced by retired personnel in accessing medical care, particularly at private hospitals, and urged an increase in financial assistance for seriously ill ex-servicemen, including cancer patients. The meeting was chaired by BJP MP Radha Mohan Singh.