Centre Likely To Resolve Deadlock Over MGNREGA Funds With Bengal, Pay Dues Soon

The Bengal government has claimed that Rs 6,907 crore MGNREGA dues was pending with the Centre, affecting nearly 2.54 crore job card holders in the state.

After several rounds of meetings between TMC and Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose, the Centre is likely to resolve its deadlock with the Bengal government over MGNREGA dues, PTI reported. In the past few months, Trinamool Congress leaders, including MP Abhishek Banerjee, held discussions with Bose, who then intervened with Rural Development Minister Giriraj Singh, Raj Bhavan sources told PTI.

The Union Minister has promsied to resolve the dispute over delayed payment of MGNREGA wages but officials have not given a timeline. Certain conditions like sending audited reports have been set for clearing the dues, the officials told PTI.

Last month, addressing reporters, Amit Mitra, the principal chief adviser to the West Bengal CM, claimed Rs 6,907 crore was pending with the Centre, affecting nearly 2.54 crore job card holders in the state. He also warned of taking the legal path if talks with the Centre failed.

Mitra claimed the Centre had stopped disbursing MGNREGA funds under Section 27 of the MGNREGA Act since December 24, 2021. 

Earlier this year, the Central Government said the funds were not released to West Bengal for the rural employment scheme due to non-compliance of regulations.

"Funds of State of West Bengal have been stopped from March 9, 2022 as per provision of Section 27 of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 due to non-compliance of directives of Central Government," the Rural Development Ministry had said in a statement.

In October, the TMC leadership, led by Abhishek Banerjee and Derek O'Brien, held a protest at Rajghat on Gandhi Jayanti and also took out a march to the Rural Development Ministry at the Krishi Bhawan in Delhi. TMC also staged a dharna outside the Raj Bhavan in Bengal before the Governor assured them that he would intervene with the Centre on the matter.

Abhishek Banerjee has warned that TMC would hold a bigger demonstration, with the participation of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Bannerjee, if there was no response from the Centre.

The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme was launched by the then UPA government in 2006 with the objective of providing livelihood to rural households.