Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh Thursday, questioned the effectiveness of the National Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS) app implemented by the Modi government in the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
In a statement shared on handle X, Ramesh criticised the NMMS app, citing its operational issues and negative impact on the core spirit and objectives of MGNREGA.
The Congress has consistently highlighted issues with the NMMS app since its launch in May 2022. The party claims that the app’s photo upload requirement from MGNREGA work sites excludes genuine workers facing network or connectivity issues. The party also expressed concerns that the NMMS cannot prevent fake workers from entering muster rolls, as they can take photos twice a day and claim wages without actual work.
The Ministry of Rural Development has also officially acknowledged NMMS-related problems in a notification on July 8, 2025.
However, the government’s proposed solution of combining photo verification with physical checks by officials is seen as further burdening the MGNREGA staff.
The party has demanded withdrawal of the NMMS model based on photo uploads, restoration of work-based payments aligning with MGNREGA’s original intent, increase daily wages under MGNREGA to Rs 400, make the Aadhaar-based payment system non-mandatory, and ensure wage payments within 15 days with compensation for delays.