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Worker Deletions in MGNREGA: Impact of Aadhaar Mandates

Syllabus:

GS-2:

Poverty ,Government Policies & Interventions ,Issues Relating to Development ,

GS-3:

EmploymentGrowth & Development

Focus;

The deletion of over 10 crore MGNREGA workers in four years has raised concerns about transparency and accountability. A significant surge in deletions during 2022-23 coincides with the introduction of Aadhaar-based payment systems (ABPS), highlighting procedural gaps and challenges for rural employment.

Overview of MGNREGA and the Right to Work:

• MGNREGA Objective: Guarantees 100 days of work per year for rural households.
• Job Card System: A job card is provided to every household, listing registered adult members. Without a job card, no one can participate in MGNREGA.
• Deletion Process: As per the Act (Schedule II, Paragraph 23), a person can be removed from the job card if they provide false information or if there is evidence of fraud.
• Due Process: The Act mandates that before a deletion, the worker must be given an opportunity to be heard in front of independent witnesses.
• Master Circulars: Released by the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), these guidelines help define the process for deleting workers from job cards.

 What is MGNREGA?

• MGNREGA stands for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005.
• It guarantees the “right to work” to rural citizens, providing a minimum of 100 days of unskilled manual labor to eligible rural households.
• The primary objective is to offer employment opportunities and improve the economic condition of rural citizens.
• The act emerged from sustained activism led by Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS) and development economist Jean Drèze, among others.
• MKSS played a pivotal role by organizing workers in government drought relief programs, which laid the groundwork for this landmark law.

Key Provisions of MGNREGA

• Eligibility Criteria:
• Must be a citizen of India.
• Minimum age: 18 years.
• Belong to a rural household.
• Willing to do unskilled work.
• Guaranteed Employment:
• Assures 100 days of unskilled work at minimum wages.
• Unemployment Allowance:
• If work is unavailable within 15 days, an allowance of 1/4 of the minimum wage is provided for the first 30 days and 1/2 thereafter.
• Social Audit:
• Mandatory audit of all works under MGNREGA as per Section 17 to ensure transparency and accountability.
• Preference for Local Employment:
• Work is usually assigned within a 5 km radius, with travel allowances for farther locations.
• Decentralized Planning:
• Panchayati Raj Institutions lead planning, implementation, and monitoring.
• Gram Sabhas suggest and execute at least 50% of the work.
• Worker Protections:
• Ensures proper working conditions, medical aid, timely wages (within 15 days), and compensation for delays.

Reasons for Deletion and Implementation Guidelines

• Allowed Reasons for Deletions:
  • Permanent migration of a household.
  • Duplicate job cards.
  • Issuance of job cards based on fraudulent documents.
  • If a Gram Panchayat becomes a Municipal Corporation.
• Verification Process: Deletions must be verified by the Programme Officer to ensure accuracy and integrity.
• Documentation and Reporting: Every deletion must be documented, reported to the Gram Sabha/Ward Sabha, and updated in the MGNREGA Management Information System (MIS).
• Dropdown Options in MIS: The MIS system offers 12 reasons for deletions, including “Duplicate Applicant,” “Fake Applicant,” and “Not willing to work.”

Surge in Deletions and Aadhaar-based Payment System (ABPS):

• Increase in Deletions:
  • In 2021-22, 1.49 crore workers were deleted; this number surged to 5.53 crore in 2022-23.
  • Over four years, 10.43 crore workers across India were deleted from MGNREGA job cards.
• Relation to ABPS:
  • The surge in deletions coincides with the introduction of mandatory Aadhaar seeding for MGNREGA payments.
  • The ABPS mandates that workers’ Aadhaar numbers must be linked with their job cards for payment processing.
  • Officials were tasked with increasing Aadhaar seeding rates, leading to a rush in deletions to enhance compliance.
• Minister’s Response: The Minister of State for Rural Development stated that deletion and updates are regular exercises for accuracy, though field data suggests a rush to meet ABPS compliance without proper verification.

Methodology and Findings of Worker Deletion Analysis

• Sampling and Data Collection:
  • Random sampling was conducted across 21 states to analyze worker deletions.
  • Data was collected from 1,914 villages, showing a deletion of nearly 2.98 lakh workers.
• Top States for Deletions:
  • Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, and Gujarat had the highest deletions, with Bihar’s Madanpur block seeing a deletion of over 53,000 workers.
  • In West Bengal, where no funds have been released since December 2021, deletions jumped from 550 in 2021-22 to 31,861 in 2022-23.
• Reasons for Deletions in Sample:
  • The primary reasons for deletion in the sample included “Not willing to work” (71%), “Duplicate job card,” and “Non-existent in Panchayat.”
  • These findings suggest arbitrary deletions and a lack of proper verification.
• Inconsistencies in Reasons:
  • The “Not willing to work” reason was found for many workers who had demanded or worked during the same year.
  • In some cases, villagers who migrated or became urbanized were deleted despite the Act’s mandate to delete all workers in such villages.

Regional Disparities in Worker Deletions

• States like Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, and Gujarat saw disproportionately high worker deletions.
• West Bengal faced unique challenges due to a lack of MGNREGA funding since December 2021.
• Some regions experienced intra-block variations, indicating inconsistency in deletion practices.
• For instance, in Bihar’s Madanpur block, one village reported nearly 5,000 deletions, while another had just three.
• Such disparities raise concerns about uniformity and fairness in implementing MGNREGA policies.

Legal and Ethical Concerns

• Deleting workers without proper verification violates the legal guarantees under MGNREGA.
• Many workers categorized as “not willing to work” had actually demanded or performed work during the same financial year.
• The lack of worker awareness and absence of Gram Sabha discussions undermines their rights.
• Deleting a subset of workers due to urban reclassification, instead of the entire village, points to arbitrary practices.
• Ethical concerns arise from prioritizing compliance metrics like Aadhaar linking over the right to employment.
• These practices contradict the scheme’s goal of ensuring rural employment and poverty alleviation.

Challenges and Way Forward for Transparency and Accountability

• Key Challenges:
  • Arbitrary Deletions: Many deletions are based on faulty or rushed data, denying workers their right to work.
  • Verification Gaps: There is insufficient verification of deletions, especially when it comes to reasons like “Not willing to work.”
  • Lack of Gram Sabha Involvement: In many cases, deletions occur without Gram Sabha meetings or the knowledge of workers.
• Recommendations for Reform:
  • Independent Audits: Regular audits should be conducted to verify the reasons for deletions.
  • Strengthening Due Process: Ensuring that deletions follow the prescribed legal process, with the involvement of Gram Sabhas.
  • Enhanced Transparency: Increasing public consultation and transparency regarding deletion reasons.
  • Training for Officials: Field officials should be trained to follow proper protocols for deletions, and worker representatives should be included in decision-making processes.
  • Efficient Grievance Redress: Establishing a robust system for workers to challenge wrongful deletions.

Conclusion:

The surge in worker deletions from MGNREGA job cards, especially under the Aadhaar mandate, poses a threat to rural livelihoods. Addressing procedural lapses, ensuring transparency, and safeguarding the legal right to work are crucial for upholding the scheme’s core objective of social justice and employment security.

Source: The Hindu

Mains Practice Question:

Q: Examine the reasons for the surge in worker deletions under MGNREGA and its impact on rural employment. Suggest measures to ensure transparency and accountability in the deletion process.