Srinagar, Dec 16 (KNO): The Union Ministry Tuesday said that Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) has played an important role in supporting rural livelihoods and generating employment in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Ministry of Rural Development according to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) informed the Lok Sabha that Jammu and Kashmir has consistently received substantial funding under MGNREGS since its inception.
In recent years, the Union Territory received over Rs 1,000 crore annually, including Rs 1,152.32 crore in 2020–21, Rs 950.14 crore in 2021–22, Rs 1,050.61 crore in 2022–23 and Rs 1,076.95 crore in 2025–26 (as on December 11, 2025).
Official data shows that more than 400 lakh persondays were generated in Jammu and Kashmir in several recent years, including 407.01 lakh persondays in 2020–21 and 409.38 lakh persondays in 2024–25, providing wage employment to rural households .
The Ministry said that third-party evaluation studies conducted by NITI Aayog have acknowledged the positive impact of MGNREGS on the rural economy, including increased household income, poverty alleviation, creation of durable assets, improved water security and soil conservation—benefits that are equally applicable to Jammu and Kashmir—(KNO)