Thu Nov 28 01:00:00 UTC 2024: ## Millions of Indian Workers Wrongfully Deleted from Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme
**Bangalore, India – November 28, 2024** – A new analysis reveals a massive surge in the deletion of workers from India’s Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme, raising serious concerns about procedural irregularities and potential violations of workers’ rights.
The study, conducted by researchers from LibTech India and Azim Premji University, Bangalore, found that 5.53 crore (55.3 million) workers were deleted from the scheme in 2022-23, a 247% increase from the previous year. Over the past four years, a staggering 10.43 crore (104.3 million) workers have been removed.
The researchers attribute this dramatic increase to the government’s push for Aadhaar-based payment systems (ABPS), suggesting that field officials may have deleted workers’ names without proper verification in a rush to meet compliance targets. This is supported by a study in the *Economic and Political Weekly*, which indicated that many deletions were conducted without due process.
A sample of data from 1,914 villages across 21 states revealed that nearly 1.65 lakh (165,000) workers were deleted in 2022-23 alone, with a significant number cited as “not willing to work,” despite many of them having actively sought or performed work that same year. The researchers found alarming inconsistencies, including deletions in villages where no MGNREGA work had been undertaken for over a year due to lack of government funding.
The study also highlights the violation of established procedures. Many deletions were not carried out through the mandated Gram Sabhas (village councils), and many workers were unaware of the removal of their names until they attempted to participate in the scheme.
The Ministry of Rural Development’s response to Right to Information requests suggests a lack of verification and analysis of the reasons given for deletions, further indicating the potential for widespread abuse of the system.
The authors of the study advocate for greater transparency, accountability, and fairness in the implementation of the MGNREGA, recommending independent audits, regular reviews, and worker participation in decision-making processes to protect the rights of rural workers. They emphasize the critical need for adherence to established procedures to ensure that this vital employment guarantee scheme remains effective.
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