AMRITSAR: A prominent socio-political organisation in Punjab, Waris Punjab De, has raised serious concerns over the alleged cancellation of nearly eight lakh Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) job cards in the state. The organisation claims this action has directly impacted approximately 14 lakh individuals and has called for a thorough investigation by both the central and state governments into the matter.
Waris Punjab De Alleges Adverse Impact on Rural Poor
Professor Ranjit Singh Dhanoa, a senior leader and chief spokesperson for Waris Punjab De, cited parliamentary data to highlight what he described as a significant reduction in the number of families seeking employment under the flagship rural employment scheme. According to Dhanoa, the figures indicate a sharp decline from 6.46 lakh families demanding work in the financial year 2025-26 to 3.02 lakh families in the current financial year, 2026-27. He stated that this substantial drop is deeply concerning and raises pertinent questions regarding the effective implementation of MGNREGA in Punjab.
Information was available with The Chenab Times indicating that the organisation is urging the Union government and the Punjab government to provide a clear explanation for the extensive cancellation of job cards. Waris Punjab De seeks to understand the criteria used for these cancellations, the number of eligible families that have been offered alternative employment or integrated into a revised system, and crucially, how many have been effectively denied their legal entitlement to work.
The organisation has expressed that the perceived silence from both the central and state administrations on this issue is exacerbating the anxiety among economically vulnerable families in rural Punjab. Dhanoa emphasised that MGNREGA serves as a vital source of livelihood for landless labourers, daily wage earners, and other rural households with limited economic resources.
Demand for Transparent Inquiry and Relief
Professor Dhanoa further articulated that if eligible beneficiaries have been disenfranchised from employment opportunities due to administrative inefficiencies or policy flaws, an immediate and comprehensive review of the situation is imperative. He appealed to both the central and state governments to collaborate rather than engage in mutual blame, ensuring that no eligible individual is deprived of employment under the MGNREGA scheme.
The organisation has also demanded that any eligible families that have faced injustice as a result of these cancellations should receive prompt relief, and their employment rights under the scheme must be reinstated. Waris Punjab De is advocating for a transparent and impartial inquiry into the wholesale cancellation of MGNREGA job cards across Punjab to ascertain the facts and ensure accountability.
The MGNREGA scheme, a cornerstone of rural development in India, aims to provide guaranteed wage employment to every rural household that demands it. The alleged mass cancellation of job cards raises critical questions about the scheme’s integrity and its reach to the intended beneficiaries, particularly in a state like Punjab where rural employment is a significant concern.
The lack of clarity surrounding the cancellation process and its consequences for the rural workforce has prompted the demand for governmental action. Waris Punjab De’s call for a probe underscores the need for greater transparency and accountability in the implementation of welfare schemes that are critical to the economic well-being of a large segment of the population.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
