The Union government's decision to enforce mandatory digital attendance through the National Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS) application has triggered a severe crisis in regions lacking mobile network coverage. This move has significantly disrupted the recording of attendance under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), particularly in tribal areas of Kerala, including Edamalakkudy, India's first tribal panchayat.
Compulsory Digital Attendance from February
Since February this year, the Centre has made digital attendance via the NMMS application compulsory. Consequently, the implementation of MGNREGS has been severely hampered in several grama panchayats in Idukki district, where mobile connectivity is either poor or completely absent. Seeking urgent intervention, Idukki MP Dean Kuriakose submitted a memorandum to Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, highlighting the gravity of the situation.
Widespread Network Issues in Tribal Panchayats
Numerous wards in tribal panchayats such as Marayoor, Edamalakkudy, Shantanpara, and Adimali are grappling with severe mobile network issues. Tribal workers engaged at worksites located in remote hilly areas are unable to mark their attendance through the NMMS application, leading to delays in wage disbursal. In Marayoor grama panchayat, muster roll entries for 19,182 workdays completed between February 23 and March 29 in Wards 1, 2, and 3 remain unuploaded due to lack of network connectivity. As a result, wages exceeding Rs 70 lakh remain unpaid to workers in the panchayat. The affected families, who rely heavily on agriculture and MGNREGS work for their livelihood, are now facing severe financial hardship.
Loss of Manual Attendance Exemptions
Previously, in such situations, attendance could be recorded manually through special permission granted at the block level. However, under the new system, block-level authorities no longer have the power to grant such exemptions. This has exacerbated the crisis, leaving workers with no alternative means to record their attendance.
Demand for Temporary Exemption
MP Kuriakose has urged the Centre to temporarily exempt network-deficient regions in Idukki from the digital attendance system and permit the use of conventional manual muster rolls for attendance and wage disbursal until proper mobile connectivity is ensured in these areas. He emphasized the need for urgent intervention to protect the livelihood of poor workers, who are bearing the brunt of this technological mandate.
