The Manrega Yojna, officially known as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), is one of India’s most ambitious social welfare programs. In Bihar, a state struggling with high levels of poverty, unemployment, and migration, Manrega holds special importance. The scheme promises 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in a year to rural households willing to do unskilled manual work.
But in Bihar the sworn word of Manrega is not always equal to the reality on the ground, particularly for women. One of the biggest issues that people who rely on this scheme have to put up with is delayed payments, absence of proper facilities and corruption.
Why Manrega Is Important in Bihar
Bihar ranks among the poorest states in India, with a high rate of rural migration. Most families rely on agriculture, but due to landlessness or poor returns from small farms, they often look for wage labour.
Men move to work in other states, abandoning women with children and other responsibilities in the house. To such women MGNREGS is not only a work chance but also a lifeline. It provides them with an opportunity to make money, become confident, and educate their children and take care of them.
Promises of the Scheme
MGNREGS is a rights-based employment scheme. That means:
- The government must provide work within 15 days of application.
- If work is not given, the applicant is entitled to unemployment allowance.
- Work should be within 5 km from the applicant’s village.
- If it’s farther, workers should be given extra 10% wages for travel and stay.
- There should be shade, drinking water, first aid, and childcare facilities at the worksite.
- At least one-third of the workers must be women.
But Reality Is Different in Bihar
In December 2024, around 800 workers, including 700 women, protested in Patepur block of Vaishali district. They were demanding their pending wages, more work days, and action against corruption in the Manrega system.
This strike was organized with the help of an organization known as Jan Vikas Shakti Sangathan (JVSS). Their reports claimed that workers were on the lists of attendance lists at many places without their awareness. Money was then claimed using these names, which officials pocketed. This occurred because of the wrong use of the National Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS) application that captures daily attendance.
The individuals were identified as being in the app, yet they never knew about the work. Thereafter, the salaries were stolen by corrupt officers and representatives.
How to Apply for a MANREGA Job Card in Bihar? (MANREGA Yojana Job Card Apply)
- Visit your local Panchayat office
- Apply for a Job Card
- Fill out the application form and submit ID proof (Aadhaar/Ration Card)
- Work is guaranteed within 15 days of application
- Now applications can also be made through the Bihar Government’s website and mobile app
Real-Life Stories from Workers
Shiv Kumari’s Story
One of the women who are of the Manjhi community is Shiv Kumari, a 39-year-old female and a member of the Nilo Rukunpur panchayat. Her husband is a migrant laborer in Kolkata. In 2023, she received 15 days of work with Manrega, and she did not receive any payment in 10 days. Her family comprises two children and extremely small land, so her family lives on the minimal she earns.
“The 10 days of work I got is very valuable to us,” she said.
Pramila Devi’s Story
Pramila, 43, also from the Manjhi community, received 20 days of work but was paid for only 11 days. Many times, her name was on the list, but she was not informed on time, so she missed work.
“Due to lack of money, my children had to stop studying,” she said. “My sons now work in brick kilns in Gujarat.”
Big Problems Faced by Workers
1. Less Work, Delayed Wages
Only 0.3% of families in the Vaishali district worked out on 100 days in 2023-24. In Bihar, only 0.4 of the families were able to receive full work. A majority of the workers received less than 50 days of work, and a number are yet to receive payment.
2. Women Are Left Out
There are a lot of women who are provided with job cards but never find employment. Others do not even know how to use their work orders. They desire to work, but nobody mentors them.
3. Lack of Basic Facilities
At most worksites, there is no shade, no clean water, no toilets, and no childcare. This is against the law.
Sanju Devi from Muzaffarpur said women have to use bushes as toilets, which becomes difficult during menstruation.
What the Data Says
Here’s a simple table showing how much work was provided in Bihar in the financial year 2023–24:
| Category | Data |
| Total families who demanded work | 5.35 million |
| Families who got full 100 days work | 23,074 (0.4%) |
| Labour budget (person-days) | 225 million |
| Person-days completed | 201.5 million (89.6%) |
| Average days of employment per household | 43.85 (down from 47.16) |
| Share of women in total workdays | 54.29% (down from 56.39%) |
Crèche and Childcare Not Available
The Manrega law says that if there are more than 5 children below 6 years at the worksite, then a crèche must be provided. But in most blocks of Vaishali and Muzaffarpur, no such facility exists.
Renu Devi, a 28-year-old mother from Nirpur Panchayat, said she was never asked if she was bringing her children to work. She had to manage her three small kids alone at the site.
Bureaucratic Issues and Corruption
No Proper Information
Most of the women are not informed of where and when they should work. They are not aware of how many days the company records and how much they will earn even when they work.
Job Cards Removed Uninformed.
Some employees have been deprived of their job cards without being informed. It is to eliminate fraudulent or non-utilized cards, as officials say; however, genuine workers are being victimized.
Mate System Misused
Mate is the one who heads a team of workers and takes attendance. The mates are not trained in some places and the responsibilities are done by their husbands in other places. This results in mistakes and loss of wages.
Women Want a Bigger Role
The Bihar government started a policy to have more ‘Mahila mates’, but it is not working well. Many women were told to apply, but not trained properly.
Ranjan Kumar from JVSS said, “We train the women in our organisation. They understand their rights better and should be appointed as mates.”
Technology Is a Barrier
The NMMS app was supposed to improve transparency, but it has created new problems:
- Poor mobile networks delay attendance marking.
- If attendance is not recorded on time, payment is denied.
- Some workers don’t have smartphones, so they borrow or miss attendance.
Conclusion: A Promise That Needs Action
The Manrega Yojna in Bihar was designed to provide dignity and income security to rural families, especially women. But today, it is struggling with corruption, poor implementation, and lack of accountability.
Irrespective of these problems, the rural women continue to turn to Manrega to help their families. The scheme can still be an effective weapon to combat poverty in Bihar provided that the government enhances the system, pays on time, offers basic amenities and assists women mates.
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