‘Gram Rozgar Sahayaks work 16-hour days for Rs 10,209/month—no salaries for months, no social security, just empty promises’
The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), one of India’s most ambitious rural employment schemes, promises to provide at least 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to every rural household. While much attention has been given to the beneficiaries of this scheme, the plight of those who make its implementation possible—the supporting staff—remains largely overlooked, especially in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir.
The Backbone of MGNREGA: A Neglected Workforce
Supporting staff under MGNREGA in Jammu & Kashmir include Gram Rozgar Sahayaks (GRS), data entry operators, technical assistants (TAs), programme officers, and other contractual workers. These individuals are the bridge between rural citizens and the government machinery. They facilitate the registration of workers, preparation of job cards, implementation and monitoring of work sites, digital record keeping, and timely wage disbursal. Despite their critical role, these workers have faced years of uncertainty, exploitation, and systemic neglect. All of them are working on a contractual or honorarium basis without any form of job security or social security benefits. Several staff members have been serving since as far back as 2008, yet they remain undocumented even after nearly two decades of continuous service.
Delayed Salaries and Unjust Wages
One of the most pressing issues faced by the supporting staff is the chronic delay in salary payments. In many districts, workers have reported not receiving salaries for months at a stretch. When they are paid, the wages are meagre, different categories having different monthly honorariums- GRS is being paid meagre consolidated remuneration of Rs10209, Technical Assistant Rs 16500, ranging between Rs 10,209 to Rs 21,000 per month—far below the living wage, especially considering the rising cost of living.
These workers are also required to meet demanding targets and administrative requirements, often using their personal resources like mobile phones and internet data to perform government duties. Many have to travel long distances to remote panchayats with no travel allowances or reimbursements.
No Social Security or Legal Protection
Unlike regular government employees, the supporting staff under MGNREGA is not entitled to benefits such as provident fund, health insurance, maternity leave, or pension. This lack of formal protection leaves them highly vulnerable to exploitation, termination without notice, and financial instability. The irony is stark: those working to uphold the rights of rural labourers under a legal guarantee are themselves denied the very principles of dignity and fairness.
Additional Assignments
Services of Gram Rozgar Sahayaks are being utilised other than NREGA Scheme, such as Nodal Officers for Back to Village Programmes, PMAY-G Surveyors, SBM scheme, PM Vishwakarma, and other programmes, which are out of the domain (Job Chart) of supporting Staff employees.
Protests and Appeals Fall on Deaf Ears
Over the past few years, there have been multiple protests, sit-ins, and memorandums submitted by MGNREGA supporting staff across Jammu & Kashmir. From Srinagar to Rajouri, these workers have repeatedly urged the government to consider their long-pending demands: regularisation of services, timely and fair wages, and inclusion in government welfare schemes. Despite several assurances by local and regional authorities, no concrete policy has been framed to address their grievances. The silence of the administration has only deepened frustration and resentment within the workforce.
A Case for Fairness and Urgent Policy Reform
The situation of MGNREGA supporting staff in J&K is a glaring contradiction in the ethos of public service delivery. For a scheme aimed at rural empowerment to function effectively, the foundation must be strong, and that foundation is the staff who implement it. Several states, such as Odisha, Kerala, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Maharashtra, have taken steps toward regularising or at least improving the working conditions of MGNREGA staff. Jammu & Kashmir must follow suit.
Recommendations from labour experts and civil society groups include:
Regularisation of long-serving staff with clear eligibility criteria and timelines
Timely disbursement of salaries through direct benefit transfer
Provision of social security benefits, including health insurance
EPF and pension schemes
Professional development and training opportunities for staff
Grievance redressal mechanisms to address workplace injustices
A Call to Conscience
Injustice, when institutionalised, becomes a crisis of governance. The administration must act—because every day of delay is another day of indignity for those who have given their years in service to rural India’s most ambitious welfare programme.
The struggle of MGNREGA supporting staff in Jammu & Kashmir is not just a labour issue—it is a human rights concern. These individuals deserve dignity, recognition, and fairness. As the Union Territory progresses in governance and development, it must not leave behind those who are working tirelessly to build its rural economy. Justice for MGNREGA staff is long overdue. The time has come for policymakers to rise above bureaucratic apathy and deliver what is rightfully theirs: a life of dignity, stability, and respect.
Aamir
36****@***il.com