Rohit Kumar, Chandigarh. Punjab has gone ahead in the country in the matter of removing fake and wrong job cards under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGA). According to data tabled in the Lok Sabha by the central government, a total of 5,27,728 job cards have been canceled in Punjab in the last six years.
This number is about 82 percent of the total job cards removed in the three states of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. Statistics show that a total of 6,43,483 job cards were removed in these three states between the year 2019-20 to 2024-25.
During this period, 60,629 job cards were canceled in Himachal Pradesh and 55,126 in Haryana, while the figure of Punjab was much more than these two states. It is clear from this that the biggest and strictest action has been taken in Punjab to remove irregularities in MNREGA.
Figures increased year after year
Even if the last six years are compared, Punjab's progress is clearly visible. In the year 2019-20, 16,675 job cards were removed in Punjab, 14,330 cards were canceled in 2020-21. Whereas in 2021-22, this number suddenly increased to more than 3.40 lakh.
After this, 69,225 job cards have been removed in 2023-24 and so far 20,981 job cards have been removed in 2024-25. Such a large number of job cards were not canceled in any year in Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.
Not only job cards, but Punjab has also been at the forefront in removing ineligible laborers. Between the year 2019-20 to 2023-24, names of 9,22,378 laborers were removed from job cards in Punjab.
During the same period, only 2,54,325 workers were laid off in Himachal Pradesh and 98,719 in Haryana. These figures show that investigation and monitoring was done in a more serious manner in Punjab.
Reason for removal of card: Fake name and address
According to the central government, the main reasons for removing job cards include fake or duplicate names, wrong information, the family leaving the village permanently, the village joining an urban area or the death of the only member recorded on the job card.
The government has also made it clear that in this process, care is taken that the job card of any eligible and needy family is not removed by mistake.
Government launched NMMS app
To increase transparency in MNREGA, the Central Government has implemented the National Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS) app. Under this, from January 1, 2023, the attendance of workers is being recorded twice a day through photographs along with time and location. This has curbed fake attendance to a great extent.
The Union Rural Development Ministry has reiterated that MNREGA is a demand-driven scheme and the responsibility to implement it lies with the states and union territories. The Ministry has indicated that further necessary changes can be made to make the scheme better and transparent.