Rs 2,5SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir has recorded substantial activity under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), with expenditure exceeding Rs 2,576 crore across completed and ongoing works during the current and previous financial years, Parliament was informed on Tuesday.
Data placed before the Lok Sabha by Minister of State for Rural Development Kamlesh Paswan shows that in 2025–26 (as on March 20), as many as 46,178 works have been completed in Jammu and Kashmir with an expenditure of Rs 73.62 crore, while 4,80,135 works are currently ongoing involving Rs 1,250.57 crore.
In the previous financial year 2024–25, the Union Territory saw 1,81,828 works completed at a cost of Rs 330.58 crore, alongside 3,89,873 ongoing works with an expenditure of Rs 922.10 crore.
In Rajouri district, which includes the Nowshera block referenced in the query, 9,300 works were completed in 2025–26 with an expenditure of Rs 11.58 crore, while 84,810 works are ongoing involving Rs 165.94 crore. During 2024–25, the district recorded 19,723 completed works costing Rs 48.59 crore and 66,696 ongoing works with expenditure of Rs 104.51 crore.
The scheme, which guarantees up to 100 days of wage employment to rural households on demand, continues to generate large-scale rural infrastructure including roads, water conservation structures and land development works.
On the funding side, the Centre released Rs 190.68 crore under the material component of MGNREGS to Jammu and Kashmir in 2024–25, followed by Rs 125.30 crore in 2025–26 so far.
Addressing concerns regarding pending liabilities, the government said fund flows for material components are routed through the State Nodal Account (SNA-SPARSH) system, with the responsibility of further disbursement resting with the Union Territory administration. The Centre does not release funds directly to districts or blocks.
The government maintained that MGNREGS remains a demand-driven scheme, with implementation and execution primarily handled by the respective State and Union Territory governments, including disbursal of payments and clearance of pending dues.
