JNM journalist Hardeep Jamwal | Jammu
The Jammu and Kashmir government has clarified in the Assembly that no plan or proposal is currently under consideration to regularize the support staff working under the centrally sponsored Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA). This statement has dashed the hopes of approximately 3,800 MNREGA workers working across the state.
The Minister in charge of the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department presented this information in the House in response to a written question asked by MLA Mir Mohammad Fayaz. The minister stated that all support staff appointed under the MNREGA scheme in Jammu and Kashmir are working on a purely temporary and contractual basis.
According to the government, these workers are deployed at the Panchayat, Block, District, Divisional, and Union Territory levels and play a vital role in implementing the rural employment scheme at the grassroots level. Despite this, their appointments have not been made against any permanent or sanctioned posts.
On the issue of regularization, the government stated categorically that MNREGA is a centrally sponsored scheme, under which the appointment of support staff is valid only for the specified contract period or the duration of the scheme. Therefore, there is no provision for regularizing the services.
However, the government also clarified that the honorarium of the employees has been increased from time to time. The latest revision was implemented under Government Order No. 49-RD&PR of 2024, issued on January 30, 2024.
The revised monthly honorarium is as follows:
Gram Rozgar Sevak (GRS): ₹6,806 to ₹10,209
Technical Assistant: ₹11,000 to ₹16,500
MIS Operator: ₹11,000 to ₹13,200
Admin/Accounts Assistant: ₹6,806 to ₹10,209
The government also stated that any future proposals for honorarium increases will be considered at the upcoming meeting of the State Employment Guarantee Council (SEGC).
For now, the government’s stance on regularization makes it clear that the road to permanent employment for MNREGA support staff remains a long one.
