The Government’s decision to approve 150 person-days under MGNREGA for Jammu & Kashmir is more than an administrative revision-it is a timely intervention that directly addresses the unprecedented distress caused by this year’s monsoon floods. With 1,962 Panchayats officially declared flood-affected, the impact on rural livelihoods has been severe, and the poorest households have borne the harshest brunt. For thousands of families dependent almost entirely on MGNREGA wages, the natural calamity struck at a time when they had neither financial buffers nor assets to fall back upon. Their kuchha houses were damaged or destroyed, agricultural activities were disrupted, and available casual labour drastically shrank. In such a scenario, extending guaranteed wage employment from 100 to 150 days is nothing short of life-saving. The additional 50 days provide exactly what the Act promises-assured public employment when people need it the most. This will enable families to rebuild damaged homes gradually while still keeping food on the table, preventing them from slipping deeper into poverty or indebtedness.
From the governance perspective, the decision is equally significant. Floods have heavily damaged rural infrastructure, especially village roads, paths, culverts, and drainage systems. Restoring these is essential for reconnecting habitations, enabling access to markets, and resuming normal economic activity. MGNREGA, with its focus on labour-intensive works and durable community assets, is one of the most efficient mechanisms for such reconstruction. The increased labour budget will help accelerate these works without imposing sudden financial strain on the UT exchequer.
At its core, MGNREGA is designed to uphold rural dignity through guaranteed work. In flood-ravaged J&K, the extension to 150 days is not just a policy adjustment but a reaffirmation of that promise-a crucial step that will help the most vulnerable households rebuild, recover, and reclaim stability in the months ahead. Timing is most crucial. Credit is due to both the UT administration and the Central Government for acting in concert and recognising the gravity of the situation. Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has fulfilled yet another commitment made during his visit to J&K, reinforcing the Centre’s responsiveness to region-specific crises. One hopes that other promised measures-particularly those related to housing support, infrastructure rehabilitation, and livelihood diversification-will follow soon.
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