Union Government Plans to Revive MNREGS in West Bengal Amid Protests

Resumption of MNREGS in West Bengal

On Friday, the Union Ministry of Rural Development informed Parliament that it is currently working on updating the necessary procedures to restart the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS) in West Bengal.

Launched in 2005 by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance, the MNREGS aims to provide livelihood security to rural households by guaranteeing 100 days of unskilled work annually for those who seek it, covering all districts across the nation.

Funding for this initiative comes from both the Union and state governments.

In March 2022, the Union government halted MNREGS funding for West Bengal, citing numerous irregularities and breaches of the scheme's implementation guidelines by the state authorities.

During the financial year 2021-2022, West Bengal received Rs 7,507 crore under MNREGS but has not received any funds in the subsequent three financial years.

On Friday, Trinamool Congress MPs staged a protest in the Parliament complex, demanding the release of dues owed by the Union government to West Bengal. They accused the central government of using a 'vindictive approach' to punish the state for political reasons, as reported by a Media House.

The Union government reportedly owes over Rs 3,000 crore to West Bengal under MNREGS, including more than Rs 1,400 crore in wages for completed work by registered workers, according to the same report.

Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien stated that West Bengal was among the top-performing states under the scheme before the funding was suspended in March 2022.

He emphasized that the workers had rightfully earned their wages and have been waiting for over three years without any compensation. O’Brien questioned whether the Union government has turned a legal right to work into a political tool against the rural population of Bengal.

In June, the Calcutta High Court ordered the Centre to restart the implementation of the scheme, allowing both the Union and state governments to impose specific conditions to mitigate irregularities.

The Union government contested this ruling in the Supreme Court, which dismissed the petition on October 27, affirming the High Court's order. However, the implementation has yet to commence, leading to additional petitions.

On November 7, the High Court instructed the Union government to promptly resume MNREGS activities in West Bengal.