Srinagar, Feb 9: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Monday informed the Assembly that it has no proposal under consideration to regularise Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) support staff, stating that around 3,800 personnel are currently working on a purely contractual and temporary basis across the Union Territory.
The information was shared by the Minister in charge of the Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj in a written reply to a question raised by MLA Mir Mohammad Fayaz,
The government said nearly 3,800 MGNREGA support staff are engaged in Jammu and Kashmir and that their honorarium has been revised periodically since their initial contractual appointments.
Explaining their role, the department said the staff are deployed at various levels — Panchayat, Block, District, Divisional and Union Territory — and play a crucial role in the grassroots implementation of the rural employment scheme.
On the issue of regularisation, the government reiterated that all supporting staff under the centrally sponsored MGNREGA scheme are engaged on a temporary contractual basis, valid only for the contract period or the duration of the scheme, whichever ends earlier. Their engagement, it added, is not against any sanctioned posts.
“As on date, there is no proposal regarding regularisation of services of staff engaged under MGNREGA,” the reply stated.
However, the department noted that the honorarium of support staff has been enhanced from time to time, with the latest revision issued under Government Order No. 49-RD&PR of 2024 dated January 30, 2024.
As per the revised rates, the monthly honorarium for Gram Rozgar Sevaks (GRS) has been increased from ₹6,806 to ₹10,209; Technical Assistants from ₹11,000 to ₹16,500; MIS Operators from ₹11,000 to ₹13,200; and Administrative/Accounts Assistants from ₹6,806 to ₹10,209.
The government added that any further enhancement in honorarium would be considered in future meetings of the State Employment Guarantee Council (SEGC). (Agencies)
