The approval of a revised Labour Budget of 4.45 crore person-days for Jammu and Kashmir under the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), aligned with MGNREGA, marks a decisive and timely intervention by the Ministry of Rural Development. This substantial enhancement is not merely an administrative adjustment; it is a recognition of the extraordinary distress inflicted by recurrent floods and monsoon-related devastation across the Union Territory, affecting rural livelihoods at every nook and corner. For thousands of families in Jammu and Kashmir, MGNREGA person-days are not a supplementary income but the very foundation of year-round sustenance. Agriculture-dependent households, marginal farmers, landless labourers and flood-hit families rely almost entirely on wage employment generated under this scheme. The recent floods did not just temporarily disrupt livelihoods; they swept away crops, damaged houses, destroyed livestock shelters, and eroded productive assets painstakingly built over decades. Survival under such circumstances is a Herculean task.
Against this backdrop, the exponential increase in persondays-from the earlier sanctioned 2.50 crore to 4.45 crore-assumes critical importance. The scale of damage was far beyond what could be addressed within the earlier budget provisions. Restoration of rural infrastructure, revival of agricultural assets, repair of water bodies, flood protection works and reconstruction of community assets require time, labour and sustained wage support. Without additional person-days, these works would have remained incomplete, leaving affected families trapped in a cycle of vulnerability.
The Rural Development Department of Jammu and Kashmir deserves credit for undertaking a detailed, ground-level assessment of post-flood damage. Instead of making generalised claims, the department compiled hard data on employment trends, demand patterns and seasonal requirements, presenting a compelling case before the Central Government. The approval reflects confidence in this evidence-based approach and acknowledges that the magnitude of destruction necessitated a departure from routine allocations. The sanction of an additional 50 days of employment for nearly 2,000 flood-affected Gram Panchayats is particularly significant. It directly targets the most distressed regions where households lost not only income sources but also personal belongings and shelter. For such families, dignified wage employment under MGNREGA is often the only safety net preventing distress migration, indebtedness and long-term impoverishment.
Equally important is the fact that over 60 per cent of the identified works relate to agriculture and allied sectors. This ensures that wage employment is not merely consumption support but also contributes to rebuilding productive rural assets. Durable works such as irrigation channels, land development, flood protection structures and soil conservation measures will enhance resilience against future climate shocks-an urgent necessity given the increasing frequency of extreme weather events.
The convergence of 19 departments under the UT Convergence Plan further expands the scope of impact. However, convergence on paper must translate into convergence on the ground. With paperwork completed and funds and person-days sanctioned, the onus now lies squarely on the implementing departments and local government. Execution must be carried out with sincerity, precision and urgency. The remaining months of the current financial year are crucial, and delays will undermine both employment generation and asset restoration. Time is a critical factor. Summer and the next monsoon season are not far away. Incomplete works or delayed interventions could expose rural communities to renewed risk. Continuous monitoring, the timely release of wages, the removal of administrative bottlenecks, and coordination at the district and block levels are non-negotiable. Any lapse would disproportionately harm those who have no alternative livelihood options in the form of industrial or service-sector employment.
Practically, this revised Labour Budget is a test of governance and empathy. Rural Jammu and Kashmir’s population bears the brunt of flood destruction year after year, with agriculture and allied activities remaining their primary means of survival. Ensuring adequate workdays under VB-G RAM G is not optional-it is a constitutional commitment to the right to livelihood and dignified living. With effective implementation, the enhanced person-days can serve as a lifeline, helping flood-hit families rebuild their lives, restore their assets and face the future with renewed resilience. The days of planning are over; the groundwork awaits to be done. The opportunity has been created; it must now be fully realised.
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