The Ministry of Rural Development has announced increased wage rates for unskilled manual labourers under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) for the fiscal year 2024-2025, which will take effect on April 1, 2024. The notification highlights that Haryana will have the highest MGNREGA wage rate at Rs 374 per day, whereas Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland will have the lowest at Rs 234 per day.
State-wise Wage Rates
The wage rates for unskilled manual workers vary across states. Here is a breakdown of some of the state-wise rates:
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Andhra Pradesh: Rs. 300.00
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Arunachal Pradesh: Rs. 234.00
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Assam: Rs. 249.00
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Bihar: Rs. 245.00
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Goa: Rs. 356.00
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Haryana: Rs. 374.00
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Uttar Pradesh: Rs. 237.00
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Uttarakhand: Rs. 237.00
It's noteworthy that Himachal Pradesh has different rates for non-scheduled and scheduled areas, with Rs. 236.00 and Rs. 295.00 respectively.
Percentage Increase Comparison
The notification reveals variations in percentage increases compared to the previous year. Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand have experienced the lowest increase at 3%, while Goa will see the highest increase at 10.6%.
Bihar and Jharkhand rank second in terms of percentage increase, with rates hiked by approximately eight percent compared to 2022. Additionally, eight other states including Haryana, Assam, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Rajasthan, Kerala, and Lakshadweep have seen increases below 5%.
Objective of MGNREGA Scheme
The MGNREGA scheme aims to enhance the livelihood security of rural households by providing at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in every financial year to those willing to undertake unskilled manual work. As of 2023-24, the scheme has deployed approximately 14.34 crore active workers across the country.
This revision in wage rates is crucial for ensuring fair compensation to rural workers engaged in various development projects under the MGNREGA scheme.
