Congress Criticizes NMMS App Issues in MGNREGA Implementation

The Congress party has criticized the Modi government for the "operational problems" associated with the National Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS) application used in MGNREGA for digital attendance verification, urging the immediate revocation of what they call an "unworkable" and "counterproductive" model. Jairam Ramesh, Congress general secretary in-charge of communications, commented on the issue, describing the government's approach under the acronym FAST, which he said stands for "First Announce Second Think."

Introduced in May 2022, the NMMS app for MGNREGA has been under scrutiny as the Congress has consistently spotlighted its flaws, arguing it undermines the integrity and spirit of MGNREGA. According to Ramesh, a recent notification by the Union Ministry of Rural Development, dated July 8, 2025, acknowledges the app's shortcomings, primarily due to connectivity issues that prevent genuine workers' photos from being uploaded at job sites.

Ramesh noted that the NMMS system failed to eradicate bogus workers from muster rolls, as these individuals could still pose for photos twice daily to receive wages without any labor. He criticized this as indicative of the NMMS's ineffectiveness, revealing instances where "fake and random photos" are uploaded.

Despite the government's admission of the problem, Ramesh claims that their proposed solutions are inadequate and potentially more problematic. The new measures call for NMMS photos to be corroborated with physical verification by officers, which Ramesh warns would divert crucial time and resources of NREGA functionaries.

Ramesh emphasized Congress's persistent push for changes in the government's MGNREGA implementation strategy. He mentioned that the Parliamentary Standing Committee for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj supports many of their proposals, including the NMMS model's withdrawal and the reaffirmation of task-based payments, a fundamental aspect of MGNREGA.

With stagnant wage issues over the last decade, Ramesh highlighted the importance of increasing MGNREGA wages, as proposed in the Congress Nyay Patra for the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections. He advocated for raising MGNREGA wages to Rs 400 per day and opposed making the Aadhar Based Payment Bridge System (ABPS) mandatory.

Ramesh also stressed the necessity for wages to be paid within the stipulated 15-day period, with compensation for any delays.