Congress Calls for Rollback of Digital Attendance System in MNREGA

speedy Summary

• The national Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS) was made mandatory three years ago for all MNREGA workers to mark attendance by uploading their photographs twice a day.
• Union Rural Development Ministry acknowledged issues with NMMS, including manipulation and irrelevant photo uploads, in it’s July 8, 2025 notification.
• Congress leader Jairam Ramesh called the NMMS system “unworkable” and argued it excludes genuine workers due to internet connectivity problems without effectively preventing fraud.
• Critics like Nikhil Dey from Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan questioned the effectiveness of photo-based attendance and highlighted misplaced solutions offered by the government.
• Concerns were raised about wasting MNREGA functionaries’ time verifying photos instead of focusing on task-based payments or holding supervisory authorities accountable.
• Proposals include monitoring mechanisms targeting engineers and supervisory staff rather then imposing measures on laborers.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The concerns surrounding the National Mobile Monitoring System reflect broader challenges in administering large-scale welfare schemes like MNREGA in India. While digitization aims to enhance transparency, practical hurdles such as poor internet connectivity and procedural inefficiencies often undermine its objectives. The government’s acknowledgment of issues with NMMS is a step in recognizing ground realities but points towards gaps in policymaking that may prioritize efficiency over inclusivity.

The push for option solutions should balance worker accountability with operational practicality. Critics rightly emphasize the importance of task-based monitoring over rigid systems like photo uploads that fail to capture actual work output.A shift toward holding engineers and supervisors accountable through geo-tagged evidence could streamline administrative checks without burdening workers already constrained by complex rules.

If addressed comprehensively, these criticisms offer an chance for policymakers to refine digital tools while safeguarding worker interests-a necessity given the reliance of millions on MNREGA for livelihood support.

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