Demand for work in MNREGA remained low in 2024, big claim in Reserve Bank report on rural situation
New Delhi| In a recent report of the Reserve Bank, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) has claimed a decline in the pace of demand for work. The report said that compared to the years after the Corona epidemic, there has been a decline in the number of people seeking work under MNREGA in most of the months of the current financial year (April-November).
Under this scheme, families whose adults are able to work are guaranteed employment for at least 100 days a year for work involving unskilled labor. According to RBI, November 2024 saw an 8.2 per cent jump in the number of people seeking work under MNREGA as compared to October. This was 3.2 percent more than in November last year. One reason for this is the sowing of Rabi crops. But if compared with the years after the pandemic, the demand for work under MNREGA remained low between April and November this financial year.
According to the Reserve Bank report, this trend points towards the improving condition of the rural economy. Especially towards the improving conditions of the agriculture sector. The report also said that in October 2024, the demand for work under MNREGA had fallen by 7.5 per cent compared to the previous month (September). The reason behind this was the harvesting of crops sown during the Kharif season.
According to the report, as of 29 November 2024, the number of registered workers working under MNREGA was 25.17 crore, which remained somewhat lower than the figure of 25.68 crore registered workers in 2023-24. However, despite this, MNREGA remains an important and secure employment medium in times of economic uncertainty.
The report also states that the organized manufacturing sector is witnessing a steady and regular increase in employment. The Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) indicates that the number of jobs in this sector has increased for nine consecutive months. At the same time, an increase in the number of jobs has also been seen in the service sector and it is growing at the fastest pace since the beginning of the survey.
