8 lakh workers, barely 2,000 households get 100 days’ work under MGNREGS in Haryana

More than 8 lakh active workers are registered under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in Haryana, but barely a few thousand households have received 100 days of guaranteed employment in the past two years. The state has also not paid any unemployment allowance during the past five financial years.

Year-wise data

Year Active workers No. of households who got 100 days of work

2022-23 8,06,439 3,447

2023-24 8,06,439 2,555

2024-25 8,06,422 2,191

This was revealed by the Centre in response to an unstarred question raised by Ambala Congress MP Varun Chaudhary in the Lok Sabha. Minister of State for Rural Development Kamlesh Paswan informed the House that Haryana had 8,06,439 active workers registered under MGNREGS in both 2022-23 and 2023-24, yet only 3,447 households and 2,555 households, respectively, completed 100 days of work during those years.

For the current year, 2024-25, Haryana has 8,06,422 active workers, but only 2,191 households have managed to secure the full quota of 100 days.

Paswan clarified the nature of the scheme, stating, “Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) is a demand-driven wage employment programme. As per the mandate of the Act, every eligible rural household is entitled to get at least 100 days of wage employment in every financial year, if he/she is willing to do unskilled manual work. In cases where the state government fails to provide employment within the stipulated time period, unemployment allowance becomes payable under Section 7 of the Act.”

He said Haryana had not reported paying any unemployment allowance on NREGASoft during the past five financial years.

“With regard to Haryana, no unemployment allowance has been reported by the state government in NREGASoft as paid to workers under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS during the past five financial years,” Paswan said.

On the financial front, the Centre said funds are released based on demand and not allocated state-wise. However, the expenditure pattern shows a decline over the years. The Centre released Rs 764.55 crore in 2020-21, which dropped to Rs 723.73 crore in 2021-22, and further halved to Rs 373.99 crore in 2022-23. The allocation rose again to Rs 477.97 crore in 2023-24 and Rs 590.19 crore in 2024-25.

Commenting on the trend, Chaudhary said, “The Centre’s data itself revealed that the funds released to Haryana reduced from Rs 764.55 crore in 2020-21 to Rs 590.19 crore in 2024-25.”

Paswan also noted that compensation for delayed wage payments is mandated under the scheme. “As per the provisions, wage seekers shall be entitled to receive payment of compensation for the delay, at the rate of 0.05% of the unpaid wages per day of delay beyond the 16th day of closure of muster roll,” he said, adding that state governments are responsible for verification and payment of delay compensation.