Structural Reforms in MGNREGA Inevitable: Dinakar
A key provision of the Bill allows suspension of the programme for up to 60 days during peak agricultural seasons to address labour shortages faced by farmers, without affecting the overall number of working days.
Vijayawada: Lanka Dinakar, chairman of the Twenty Points Programme (Viksit Bharat–Swarna Andhra), Government of Andhra Pradesh, has called for comprehensive structural reforms to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) to improve its effectiveness and transparency. The call followed a review of the scheme’s implementation across all 26 districts in the state under the leadership of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
Dinakar said restructuring the programme had become inevitable and was a welcome step in line with the state and national vision for rural development.
Highlighting the proposed Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VBG RAM G) Bill, 2025, he said the initiative aims to ensure rural employment through a more transparent, outcome-oriented framework, while promoting quality asset creation and preventing misuse of funds.
A key provision of the Bill allows suspension of the programme for up to 60 days during peak agricultural seasons to address labour shortages faced by farmers, without affecting the overall number of working days.
He also said enhanced funding with a 60:40 cost-sharing ratio between the Centre and the State, along with technology-driven measures such as biometric authentication and geospatial planning, would strengthen accountability and align the scheme with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Viksit Bharat vision.
