Average MGNREGA mandays in Tripura recorded major fluctuations from 2008 to 2026 under both Left Front and BJP governments, highlighting challenges in rural employment generation, policy continuity, fund management, and implementation efficiency while stressing the need for long-term rural development planning.
The performance of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in Tripura over the last nineteen years presents a mixed picture of achievements and challenges, reflecting how political transitions and administrative priorities can influence rural employment outcomes. Data compiled from the MGNREGA database for the period 2008–09 to 2026–27 indicate considerable fluctuations in average mandays generated per household across different years and governments.
During the Left Front (CPIM) government period, Tripura witnessed a generally upward trajectory in MGNREGA implementation in the early years. The average mandays stood at 51.12 days in 2008–09, increasing significantly to 79.78 days in 2009–10. Although it declined to 67.17 days in 2010–11, the programme again improved to 86.36 days in 2011–12, 86.79 days in 2012–13, and 86.86 days in 2013–14, indicating a period of relatively stronger employment generation.
However, despite maintaining 85.82 days in 2014–15, concerns emerged in subsequent years. Mandays increased to 92.76 days in 2015–16, which remained among the highest in the series, but thereafter performance weakened. The figure dropped to 78.54 days in 2016–17 and fell sharply to 32.55 days in 2017–18, the final year before the change in government. This decline raised questions regarding continuity in implementation, project planning, and administrative efficiency.
Following the transition to the BJP-led government, MGNREGA performance showed initial recovery. Average mandays rose from 44.84 days in 2018–19 to 59.48 days in 2019–20. During the pandemic and immediate post-pandemic period, the programme gained momentum with 73.61 days in 2020–21 and 70.95 days in 2021–22, reflecting the important role of MGNREGA in supporting rural livelihoods during economic uncertainty.
However, sustaining this improvement proved difficult. Average mandays declined again to 57.34 days in 2022–23, followed by moderate recovery to 61.77 days in 2023–24. The figure reduced further to 58.38 days in 2024–25 and 43.93 days in 2025–26. The provisional figure of 2.25 days in 2026–27 appears extremely low and may reflect partial-year reporting rather than annual completion.
A constructive assessment suggests that both governments demonstrated strengths and limitations. The earlier administration succeeded in building momentum and achieving high average employment in several years but struggled to maintain consistency toward the end of its tenure. The present government showed recovery and resilience during difficult periods but has not yet consistently restored employment levels close to the programme’s intended objective.
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Experts suggest that improving MGNREGA outcomes in Tripura requires timely fund release, stronger local planning, faster work approval, better asset creation, technological monitoring, and convergence with agriculture and rural infrastructure programmes. Rural employment generation should remain a long-term development priority beyond political cycles.
