Calls for MGNREGS wage increases

• A parliamentary panel has urged for an increase in wages for Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) workers.

• The panel found the current payment does not align with the rising cost of living.

• The Rural Development Ministry argued that MGNREGS works were a “last resort” and fallback option.

• The panel noted that the “nominal nature” of wages and delayed payment discourage workers and encourage them to seek better remuneration.

• The average MGNREGS wage increased by ₹28 a day in 2024-25.

• The panel also noted that the wage rate base for indexation has been unrevised since the scheme’s inception.