Srinagar, Aug 04 (KNO): Jammu and Kashmir generated 444.41 lakh person-days under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) during 2025-26, while 49.98 lakh person-days were generated under MGNREGS and VB-G RAM G combined during 2026-27 up to July 31, 2026, according to data furnished by the Ministry of Rural Development in the Lok Sabha.
The information was provided by Minister of State for Rural Development Kamlesh Paswan in reply to an unstarred question raised by Murari Lal Meena, who sought details regarding increasing migration from rural areas, rural labour migration, person-days generated under VB-G RAM G and other rural employment schemes, and measures to prevent migration from drought and agrarian distress-affected areas.
As per the official data, accessed by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Jammu and Kashmir generated 444.41 lakh person-days under MGNREGS in 2025-26 and 49.98 lakh person-days under MGNREGS+VB-G RAM G in 2026-27 as on July 31, 2026.
Ladakh generated 21.71 lakh person-days under MGNREGS during 2025-26 and 3.87 lakh person-days under MGNREGS+VB-G RAM G during 2026-27 up to July 31, 2026.
Paswan said the Ministry of Rural Development does not maintain data on rural labour migration, including migration attributable to drought, agrarian distress or limited rural employment.
He said the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission (Gramin), or VB-G RAM G, is a demand-driven wage employment programme aimed at strengthening livelihood security by guaranteeing wage employment to rural households while creating durable and productive rural assets.
The Act provides 125 days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year to every willing rural household whose adult members volunteer to undertake unskilled manual work. The programme follows a whole-of-government approach through convergence with other rural development and allied schemes.
Paswan said the programme gives priority to works related to water security, core rural infrastructure, livelihood infrastructure and mitigation of extreme weather events, thereby promoting sustainable livelihood opportunities and reducing distress conditions that may contribute to migration.
He further said VB-G RAM G contains comprehensive provisions to strengthen rural livelihoods and generate additional employment in areas affected by drought, agrarian distress, natural disasters and other extraordinary circumstances. Priority is accorded to livelihood infrastructure works promoting agriculture and allied activities, self-employment opportunities, rural enterprises, durable livelihood assets, water security, climate resilience and natural resource management.
The Minister said climate resilience and adaptation have been embedded as core priorities under the programme, with a dedicated thematic category for “Special Works to Mitigate Extreme Weather Events and Disaster Preparedness”. It covers disaster risk reduction, climate adaptation and protection of rural communities and assets from floods, cyclones, storms, droughts, landslides, forest fires and other extreme weather events—(KNO)