MGNREGA Workdays Drop Post Centre’s Mandatory Aadhaar E-KYC
Visakhapatnam: Working days under MGNREGA in Andhra Pradesh have seen a significant decline following mandatory Aadhaar-based e-KYC.
According to Libtech India research, from April to September 2025, the percentage of workdays provided under MGNREGA in AP fell by 13.6 per cent across the state; That’s a steeper decline than the national average of 10.4 percent. Household participation fell by nearly 5 per cent from 42.79 lakh to 40.74 lakh.
The impact was felt disproportionately by the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, whose working days decreased by 18.7 per cent and 17 per cent respectively, compared to 11.3 per cent in other social groups.
LibTech, a group of engineers, social workers and social scientists dedicated to improving the delivery of public services in India, collected this data from the official MGNREGA Management Information System.
According to the organisation, this contraction in employment has resulted in a tangible loss in household income. Average earnings per MGNREGA household fell from Rs 10,695 to Rs 10,178 despite a slight increase in the notified wage rate from Rs 300 to Rs 307. Across the state, the reduction in total earnings of households reached Rs 435 crore. This decline is notable given the state’s historically strong track record of implementing its rural employment plan.
LibTech says this exposes the risks of digital exclusion created by Aadhaar-based e-KYC authorization.
District-level data reveals that NTR district recorded the most severe decline with a 44.7 per cent decline in workdays, followed by Chittoor at 31.3 per cent. Only three districts did not show this trend. Nellore and Visakhapatnam showed modest increases of 4.8 per cent and 4.1 per cent respectively, and Palnadu remained almost flat.
LibTech report raises alarm that Aadhaar e-KYC requirement creates digital barriers. In Andhra Pradesh, around 38 lakh registered workers are yet to complete e-KYC. Among those actively seeking employment, more than 21 lakh remain unverified.
This digital bottleneck is attributed to seasonal migration, technical malfunctions and poor connectivity in rural areas.
LibTech India observes that although the push for mandatory Aadhaar-based e-KYC is aimed at eliminating fake beneficiaries, it instead prevents genuine workers from accessing their legal rights.
Therefore, LibTech requested the Andhra Pradesh government to formally request the Center to suspend the mandatory e-KYC requirement. He also recommended that the state hold consultations with workers’ groups, non-governmental organisations, researchers and central authorities to ensure that accountability is not achieved at the expense of exclusion.
