Himalaya Harbinger, Rudrapur Bureau.
The implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in district Udham Singh Nagar has failed to meet expectations, leaving thousands of job card holders without the employment opportunities they were promised. Despite the district having 1,01,636 active MGNREGA job cards, only 408 families have managed to secure the full 100 days of work this year. Official figures show that while 18,184 “families” applied for work, only 15,872 individuals were given jobs, leaving a significant number without the vital employment they depend on.
According to the official figures, in various blocks the situation is particularly dire. Bazpur, with 14,593 job card holders, saw only 52 families receiving 100 days of work, while 3,145 were provided partial employment. Similarly, in Gadarpur, out of 11,174 card holders, just 55 families completed the 100 days of work, and 1,702 others were given only partial work. The trend continued in Jaspur, where of 12,928 card holders, only 47 families received the full 100 days, and 1,916 others were employed for fewer days. In Kashipur, 8,340 job card holders were registered, but only 87 families received 100 days of work. The situation was slightly better in Khatima, where 92 families out of 21,960 card holders completed 100 days, and 3,712 were given partial employment.
Rudrapur, with 10,469 job card holders, saw just 38 families receiving 100 days of work, while 1,529 others were employed for a shorter duration. In Sitarganj, of the 22,172 job card holders, only 42 families completed 100 days of work, while 2,531 families received partial employment.
A significant reason behind the underperformance of the scheme in Udham Singh Nagar is the low wages being offered to workers. While MGNREGA workers are paid Rs 237 per day, daily wage laborers working outside the scheme earn between Rs 400 and Rs 500. As a result, many job card holders prefer daily wage labor over MGNREGA work, exacerbating the shortage of laborers willing to participate in the scheme.
The lack of work opportunities in the district has led to an increasing number of laborers congregating at the local labor depots in search of employment. MGNREGA tasks such as road construction, canal digging, well building, land development, and drought relief require laborers, but the insufficient wages and limited opportunities are discouraging many from participating.
To address the issue, Himanshu Joshi, Project Director of DRDA, said, “Verification of MGNREGA job cards will be carried out at the block level. Job cards of those who have not requested work or are working outside will be blocked, and those in need will be given priority.”
