The Government of India has approved an increase in the number of person-days under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) to 150 days for the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, in view of widespread natural calamity–related damage across rural areas.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister for Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan for the decision, stating that the enhanced person-days will significantly strengthen livelihood security for affected rural households.
In a post on X, the LG wrote:
“I’m grateful to Hon’ble PM Sh. Narendra Modi Ji and Hon’ble Union Minister of Rural Development Sh. Shivraj Singh Chouhan Ji for increasing number of person-days provided under MGNREGA to 150 days for J&K to enhance livelihood security in rural areas affected by natural calamity.”
He noted that 1,962 panchayats in the UT had been declared flood-affected, severely impacting rural livelihoods. He said the UT administration had sought special relief from the Centre, and the approval will now help ensure stable income, reduce economic distress, and support the creation of durable public assets.
As per officials, the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare had earlier recommended extending the additional 50 days of employment—above the existing 100 days—for households in flood, cloudburst, and landslide-affected areas for FY 2025–26.
Under Section 3(4) of the MGNREGA Act, the Centre has now allowed the UT to provide up to 50 extra days of work in calamity-affected rural regions during the financial year 2025–26, anticipating higher demand for public employment.
