Demand for NREGS work up on subdued farm activities

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

MGNREGS) increased in June from a year before, a possible sign that an industrial recovery is yet to take firm roots. A delay in sowing of summer crops this year due to erratic monsoon rains also pushed up demand for work under this scheme in June, a senior official said. Sequentially, the work demand increased at a faster pace in June from the May level, reflecting the typical summer trend when such demand remains elevated. About 44.23 million individuals opted for work under the scheme in June, up 2.3% from a year before, according to preliminary data compiled by rural development ministry. The month-on-month rise, however, was about 3.8% in June. Data showed that members of 33.74 million households sought work in June, up 6.2% from a year before and 6.3% from the previous month. The data get revised as and when updated information flows in.

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However, work demand is expected to decline from July, as workers shift to the farm sector for sowing of Kharif crops with the progress of monsoon rains, a senior official said. Importantly, work remained suspended in West Bengal—traditionally a major beneficiary of the programme—in light of alleged misappropriation of funds. Excluding West Bengal from the pan-India data, however, showed a 3.95% YoY rise in work demand (in individual category) in June.