However, the work done till July in 2024-25 is 23 crore person-days fewer than in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal, marking an improvement this year, according to statistics provided by the Union rural development ministry.
Fiscal year 2019-20 is regarded as a standard year for MGNREGS, as employment patterns followed expected trends before the pandemic disrupted everything with a nationwide lockdown and economic shutdown. That year saw a significant increase in job demand under the distress employment program.
The work done in 2020-21 shot through the roof with a record over 389 crore person-days. It came down marginally in 2021-22 at just over 363 crore, and further to around 294 crore in 2022-23. The improvement, with a dip in MGNREGS work performance, was expected as the economy opened up with rollback of the lockdown, resulting in return of workers to traditional centres of employment.
The person-days generated between April-July in 2024-25 stands at 127.9 crore, as against 150.2 crore in the same month in 2023-24. In contrast, 114.8 crore person-days were recorded in 2019-20.
Crucially, the 150 crore person-days mark in April-July last year was unexpectedly high as the lockdown had been rolled back over two years ago. The person-days in 2023-24 ended the downward graph, and rose to 308 crore.
The budget allocation in 2024-25 is over Rs 19,000 crore less than the expenditure incurred in the scheme in 2023-24, but may be enough to feed the work demand if the present trend holds. However, civil society experts working the ground say the introduction of national mobile monitoring software for marking attendance has hurt workers and played a role in bringing down demand, as has Aadhaar-based payment system.
(With TOI inputs)