5 months ago
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Andhra Pradesh saw a important short-term diminution successful its MGNREGA workforce during the Aadhaar-based e-KYC thrust conducted successful October and November this year, according to a caller investigation by LibTech India, a research-driven non-profit organisation that works to amended transparency, accountability and effectiveness successful public-service delivery.
The study estimates that the State accounted for astir 60% of each idiosyncratic reductions nationally during this period.
Between October 8 and November 19, 2025, the fig of registered workers fell from 124.7 lakh to 110.5 lakh, an 11.4% decrease. Active workers besides dropped by 6.2 lakh. Districts specified arsenic Annamayya, Kakinada, Tirupati, East Godavari and West Godavari registered sharper declines.
While the information basal successful MGNREGA often changes crossed seasons, the study notes that a simplification of this magnitude successful a six-week model is antithetic and corresponds with the mandatory e-KYC timeline.
At the aforesaid time, Andhra Pradesh has achieved the highest e-KYC completion complaint successful India, astir 79% among each workers and 86% among progressive workers, a show the study describes arsenic commendable, fixed the size of the programme and the logistical challenges involved.
The investigation observes, however, that the State’s precocious completion complaint sits alongside its ample stock of nationalist reductions, suggesting a analyzable enactment betwixt administrative timelines, tract conditions and idiosyncratic mobility.
Field functionaries, the study said, were moving with stringent deadlines and regular monitoring requirements, often dealing with connectivity gaps, biometric authentication failures, Aadhaar photograph mismatches and errors successful the NMMS attendance application.
A important proportionality of agrarian workers migrate seasonally for workplace and non-farm labour, making it hard for officials to scope them successful clip for e-KYC completion, said the report, adding that successful respective specified cases, workers who could not beryllium contacted oregon assisted wrong the abbreviated window, look to person been removed from the Management Information System (MIS), alternatively than being fixed further clip oregon support.
“There are besides concerns astir procedural safeguards,” said Naveen Kumar Gajjalagari, a researcher from LibTech India and cited the Union Rural Development Ministry’s January 2025 SOP that requires draught deletion lists to beryllium prepared and publically displayed astatine Panchayats, reviewed successful Grama Sabhas and shared with workers earlier immoderate deletion is finalised.
“Our tract studies did not find grounds of these steps being consistently followed and that panchayats, which are liable for verification, were not afloat progressive successful the process,” said Mr. Naveen Kumar.
Pointing to the study that besides draws parallels with earlier Aadhaar-linked transitions, noting erstwhile episodes of large-scale removals successful the State successful 2022-23, helium said these recurring patterns suggest a spread betwixt accelerated verification drives and the on-ground realities of workers who whitethorn look barriers successful completing biometric processes oregon whitethorn beryllium distant connected migration during the verification period.
LibTech India has recommended that the authorities see pausing mandatory e-KYC and NMMS requirements until safeguards are strengthened.
It has suggested a reinstatement run done nationalist show of deletion lists astatine gram panchayats, restoration of workers removed without owed process and renewed consultations with workers and civilian nine done participatory models utilized successful earlier years.
