Kendrapara: With MGNREGA failing to provide adequate employment, which has been exacerbated by the absence of mines, industries, or major economic drivers, Kendrapara district has been plagued by unemployment, forcing its youth to migrate in search of work.
An analysis of last year’s data reveals that the district’s reliance on the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) is faltering, with completion rates of approved projects steadily declining.
According to reports, though 222,650 households have collected job cards in hopes of securing work, many remain disappointed. During the 2024–25 financial year, only 73 families received the guaranteed 100 days of employment.
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Moreover, the scheme’s effectiveness has sharply declined, with project completion rates dropping from 86.38 per cent in the 2022–23 fiscal to 49.74 per cent in 2023–24. By the end of the last financial year, only 11.79 per cent of projects were completed.
In 2024, only 4,301 projects were initiated, of which 507 were completed. A total of 54,752 projects — including 25,867 pending from previous years and 28,885 awaiting approval — are now expected to be addressed in the current financial year. Officials believe that completing these projects could curb migration by providing local employment and advancing the district’s development.
Quoting a state government economic and social survey, social worker Banambar Sahu claims the district ranks 26th in the state for economic development. “Basic necessities such as roads, drinking water, electricity, education, and healthcare remain inaccessible in many parts of the district. Despite ample human resources, unemployment continues to be a pressing issue,” he says.
MGNREGA has been implemented to address this challenge, but local officials and representatives lack enthusiasm for the scheme. “Instead of encouraging workers to participate, they are allegedly obstructing efforts, exacerbating the district’s migration problem,” he adds.
Prashant Kumar Nayak, a local intellectual, maintains that funds from the scheme are allocated to projects including Anganwadi centres, rural infrastructure, flood control, water conservation, rejuvenation of water sources, road connectivity, coastal development, and improving drought-prone areas. “Completing these projects could significantly alleviate the district’s developmental challenges,” Nayak says.
However, the tardy pace of project completion and the failure to provide employment opportunities are only worsening the migration crisis, he adds.
Meanwhile, District Council Chief Development Officer Ajambar Mohanty claims that not all data from the last financial year has been gathered. “Many projects have been successfully implemented,” he insists.
PNN
