Structural Reforms in MGNREGA Inevitable: Dinakar

Vijayawada: Lanka Dinakar, chairman of Twenty Points Program (Viksit Bharat-Swarna Andhra), Government of Andhra Pradesh, has called for comprehensive structural reforms to improve the effectiveness and transparency of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). The call came after a review of the implementation of the scheme in 26 districts in the state under the leadership of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.

Dinakar said the restructuring of the program has become inevitable and is a welcome step in line with the state and national rural development vision.

Highlighting the proposed Viksit Bharat Guarantee for the Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VBG RAM G) Bill, 2025, he said the initiative aims to ensure rural employment through a more transparent, result-oriented framework, while also promoting quality asset creation and preventing misuse of funds.

A key provision of the bill allows the program to be suspended for up to 60 days during peak farming seasons, without affecting the overall number of working days, in order to address labor shortages faced by farmers.

He also said that increased funding with a cost-sharing ratio of 60:40 between the Center and the State, along with technology-driven measures such as biometric authentication and geo-planning, will strengthen accountability and align the scheme with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat.