Government's Investment in Rural Employment Scheme Surges Over 3 Times to Rs 7.81 Lakh Crore in a Decade
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Synopsis
The Central government has invested over Rs 7.81 lakh crore in the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act over the past decade, leading to the creation of 8.07 crore rural assets, reflecting a significant increase in funding and employment opportunities.
Key Takeaways
- Investment of Rs 7.81 lakh crore in rural employment over 10 years.
- 8.07 crore rural assets created under MNREGA.
- 82 percent increase in employment days.
- Women’s participation in rural employment has risen from 48 percent to 58 percent.
- Phase II of Mission Amrit Sarovar launched.
New Delhi, March 19 (NationPress) The Central government has allocated over Rs 7.81 lakh crore in the past decade (2014-15 to 2024-25) under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005 (MNREGA), facilitating the creation of 8.07 crore rural assets, as stated in an official announcement on Wednesday.
This figure marks a significant rise from the Rs 2.13 lakh crore allocated in the previous decade (2006-07 to 2013-14), which resulted in the establishment of 1.53 crore rural assets.
The total person-days of employment generated through the scheme has surged by 82 percent, reaching 3,029 crores.
According to the Ministry of Rural Development, "Over the last decade, the government’s intensified efforts have resulted in a significant enhancement in the production of rural assets, evident from the over 526 percent increase in geotagged rural assets that are of superior quality. Additionally, due to a sustained focus on women’s empowerment, female participation has risen from 48 percent in FY 2013-14 to above 58 percent in FY 2024-25."
The annual funding for the program has escalated from Rs 1,660 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 86,000 crore in the 2025-26 Budget.
The initiatives undertaken under MNREGA are tied to agricultural and allied sectors, management of natural resources, and rural infrastructure development.
Water-related projects such as check dams, farm ponds, community ponds, and open irrigation wells are executed under this initiative. The government’s ongoing commitment to water conservation has yielded impressive results, achieving a 35 percent reduction in the number of water-stressed rural blocks from 2,264 to 1,456 over the last decade.
A notable achievement is Mission Amrit Sarovar, which has resulted in the establishment of over 68,000 Amrit Sarovars across the country in Phase I. Presently, Phase II of this mission has been initiated, emphasizing water availability with community engagement and Jan Bhagidari at its foundation.
The government’s dedication to amplifying livelihood opportunities for the most disadvantaged groups has also led to a substantial rise in individual asset creation from 17.6 percent in FY 2013-14 to 56.99 percent in FY 2024-25.
Major reform initiatives like the Aadhaar-based Payment System (ABPS) and the National Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS) have been implemented to ensure the effective execution of this program. For example, the ABPS aids in better targeting, enhances system efficiency, and minimizes payment delays due to frequent bank account changes, thereby ensuring improved inclusion and reducing leakages.
Currently, Aadhaar seeding has been completed for 13.45 crores (99.49 percent) of active workers under MGNREGA, compared to only 76 lakh workers in 2014. Similarly, NMMS has increased transparency in MGNREGA’s implementation. The electronic real-time attendance tracking through NMMS has streamlined timely muster roll creation and eradicated fraudulent attendance. Additionally, provisions exist for manual attendance approval in exceptional cases at the field level, as stated.
The government has persistently worked to enhance transparency and accountability within the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA framework. The adoption of the National Electronic Fund Management System (NeFMS) and ABPS in this decade has rendered MGNREGA the largest Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme in the nation, with 100 percent of wage disbursements conducted electronically.
Previously, without such mechanisms, the risk of leakages was significant, as only 37 percent of wage payments were processed through e-FMS in 2013. Furthermore, other pioneering digital initiatives such as GIS-based planning, Geo-tagging of assets, and SECURE for estimate calculations have established this scheme as one of the most transparently administered programs in the country.
Moreover, increased focus on social audits, inspections via the Area Officer App, and other measures have led to a robust monitoring framework that was previously lacking before 2014, the statement concluded.
