Shortfall in MGNREGA employment generation in Bijbehara constituency sparks concern
Dozens of panchayats report zero person days; DDC seeks urgent government intervention
Anantnag: A shocking shortfall has been reported in employment generation under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) across the Bijbehara Assembly Constituency of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, with dozens of Panchayat Halqas reporting zero work provided so far in the financial year 2025–26.
According to official data, the Rural Development Department (RDD) block Bijbehara has generated only 24,736 person-days of work by July 2025, against an approved target of nearly 1.23 lakh persondays. Many Panchayats—including Arwani B, Guree, Katoo, K. Tang Lower and Upper, Marhama Lower and Upper, Shalgam, Thajiwara, Veeri, and Waghama Lower and Upper—reported zero employment availed, raising serious concerns about the scheme’s implementation.
The situation in the Dachnipora block is even more alarming. Out of 21,348 registered persons, only 1,065 demanded work. Of these, 1,048 were offered employment, but just 586 people actually availed the opportunity.
The block recorded a meagre 10,308 persondays, far below the approved cumulative target of 77,152 persondays for the same period.
Several Panchayats in Dachnipora also reported zero employment generated, including Adlash Magam, Banderpora, Bewoora, Budroo, Harda Kathal, Hatigam, Mahind, Nowshera, Satkipora, Sofipora, and Srigufwara.
Expressing grave concern over the issue, District Development Council (DDC) member Dachnipora, Nisar Ahmad has written to the Commissioner Secretary, Rural Development Department, seeking immediate intervention.
“This matter is extremely serious as it not only impacts the overall development of the area but also deprives poor and vulnerable families of critical livelihood support guaranteed under law. Such lapses defeat the core objective of the MGNREGA scheme.” reads the letter.
He has urged the department to take urgent corrective steps, direct concerned officers to implement the scheme in accordance with MGNREGA guidelines, and ensure employment is made available to all eligible and willing beneficiaries.
Locals from affected Panchayats have echoed the DDC’s concerns, saying that despite being enrolled under MGNREGA, they are yet to receive even a single day of work this year.
“Our families depend on this scheme for basic sustenance. The failure to start works is pushing us to the edge,” said a resident of Guree.
They have called for a high-level review of MGNREGA performance in the region and have demanded accountability from the officials responsible for the lapse.
Notably, the MGNREGA scheme, a flagship initiative to ensure livelihood security in rural areas, mandates the provision of at least 100 days of wage employment to every household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work. The ground realities in Bijbehara and Dachnipora, however, tell a different story.
As the rural populace reels under the weight of rising unemployment and lack of support, the government’s timely action will be crucial in restoring faith in the scheme meant to serve the poorest of the poor.
