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Jammu: As per the recommendation of the UT government, the Center has increased the number of person-days under MNREGA in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) to 150 and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Rural Development Minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan for the decision.
The LG said: “I am grateful to Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji and Hon’ble Union Rural Development Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan Ji for increasing the number of person-days provided under MNREGA for Jammu and Kashmir to 150 days to enhance livelihood security in rural areas affected by natural disasters.
He said, “1,962 panchayats in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir were declared ‘flood affected’ and had adversely impacted livelihoods. Special relief was sought from the Government of India and this decision will ensure stable income to vulnerable rural families, provide relief to families from economic distress and create durable assets.”
Earlier, the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) had recommended providing the benefit of additional 50 days of employment in addition to the 100 days per family under MNREGA in ‘flood/cloudburst/landslide’ (natural disaster) affected areas of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir for the financial year 2025-26.
In view of the possibility of increased demand for employment in public works due to natural disaster, under Section 3(4) of the MGNREGA Act, it has been decided to provide additional employment up to 50 days in addition to the 100 days per family in the affected rural areas of Jammu and Kashmir for the financial year 2025-26.
The vision of MNREGA is to enhance the livelihood security of rural households across the country by providing at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.
MNREGA recognizes the importance of strengthening the livelihood resource base of the poor by reaching out to the most vulnerable sections of the rural areas, including Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, women-headed households and other marginalized groups.
The scheme encourages a sense of community and collective responsibility by strengthening Panchayat Raj institutions. MNREGA promotes a bottom-up approach to planning and implementation, empowering local communities to take charge of their own development.
Through the creation of productive assets of determined quality and durability, the scheme meets immediate economic needs while laying the foundation for long-term prosperity.
–IANS