Centre Hikes MGNREGA Person-days to 150 for Jammu Kashmir

SRINAGAR: The Government of India has approved an increase in the number of person-days under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) from 100 to 150 days for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, in view of rural livelihoods impacted by recent natural calamities.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday welcomed the decision and expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister for Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan. In a post on X, he said the move would enhance livelihood security in vulnerable areas and support families facing financial stress.

The Lieutenant Governor said that 1,962 panchayats across the UT had been declared flood affected, causing widespread disruption to income sources. “Today’s decision will ensure stable income to vulnerable rural households, relieve the families from economic distress and create durable assets,” he noted.

Earlier, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare had recommended granting an additional 50 days of work—over and above the existing 100 days—under MGNREGA for the financial year 2025-26 in areas hit by floods, cloudbursts and landslides.

The Centre has invoked Section 3(4) of the MGNREG Act to expand employment provision, anticipating increased demand for labour on public works due to the natural calamity impact. The enhanced provision is aimed at strengthening rural resilience while sustaining development-oriented asset creation across affected regions.