Massive Deletion of MGNREGS Job Cards Since 2019

The government has deleted more than 4.43 crore MGNREGS job cards since the 2019-20 fiscal year. Union Minister Kamlesh Paswan disclosed the data, citing reasons such as verification, fake or duplicate cards, unwillingness to work, shifting of households, and expired single-person cards.

In a significant revelation, the government announced that over 4.43 crore MGNREGS job cards have been removed since the 2019-20 fiscal year. Union Minister of State for Rural Development Kamlesh Paswan shared these figures in a written response to the Rajya Sabha.

According to Paswan, a systematic verification process led to the deletion of 4,43,04,661 MGNREGS job cards across various states and Union Territories between 2019-20 and 2024-25. The main reasons for deletion include identification of fake or duplicate job cards, households unwilling to work, permanent relocation from the gram panchayat, and the expiration of single-person job card holders.

Notably, 22,24,982 job cards have already been deleted in fiscal 2024-25 up to July 30. The overall numbers have seen a rise over the years, with 1.02 crore deletions in 2023-24, 2.25 crore in 2022-23, and progressively fewer in preceding years. Major deletions were reported from states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Odisha.