Ranchi: The MNREGA scheme, a crucial lifeline for rural families in Jharkhand, has witnessed a concerning decline in employment opportunities over the past year. Despite its significance as a backbone for rural economies, the scheme falls short of providing the promised 100 days of employment to eligible families.
As of December in the current financial year, only 60,591 families have been able to secure 100 days of employment, reflecting a stark contrast to the scheme’s objectives. Chief Minister Hemant Soren acknowledged the issue in a meeting held in July, during which he approved a proposal to transfer the responsibility of District Program Coordinator under MNREGA from Deputy Development Commissioners to Deputy Commissioners.
However, since the transition of responsibilities, the effectiveness of MNREGA has seen a decline, with a noticeable drop in employment generation. In April, the scheme generated 1 crore 25 lakh 15 thousand 193 man days of employment, benefiting 8 lakh 20 thousand 192 families. This figure dwindled to 39 lakh 59 thousand 915 man days in December, providing employment to only 4 lakh 09 thousand 629 families.
The shift in responsibility to Deputy Commissioners has raised concerns among villagers, who are now grappling with a lack of opportunities under the MNREGA scheme.
