Calcutta High Court has directed the Centre to resume the MGNREGA scheme in West Bengal from August 1, stating that the “central government could impose specific conditions to prevent past irregularities” and ensure proper implementation and accountability.
The Calcutta High Court directed the Centre on Wednesday to implement the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) starting August 1.
The court stated that the central government could impose specific conditions to prevent past irregularities from reoccurring.
The Centre had suspended MGNREGA funding to West Bengal in March 2022, citing widespread issues in the scheme’s implementation.
Inspections of 63 worksites revealed inconsistencies at 31 locations, according to RTI responses.
West Bengal received Rs.7,507.80 crore under MGNREGA in the fiscal year 2021-22, but no funds have been allocated in the subsequent three years.
In April, the Calcutta High Court noted that the National Rural Employment Guarantee (NREG) Act does not permit indefinite suspension of the scheme due to complaints and stressed the need for timely remedial actions.
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The court requested the Centre to explain why the scheme should not be resumed in West Bengal, excluding Purba Bardhaman, Hooghly, Malda, and the Darjeeling (GTA) areas, where fund misappropriation allegations have emerged.
Despite the Centre staying MGNREGA funds for West Bengal since March 2022 over “financial misappropriation,” a report from the Union Ministry of Rural Development indicated that many other states also reported similar issues without facing funding restrictions.
A report by the standing committee on rural development, presented in the Lok Sabha in March, highlighted the “severe consequences” of the ongoing funding suspension in West Bengal, including increased distress migration and interruptions in rural development efforts.
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MGNREGA is a demand-driven employment program that ensures 100 days of wage employment each financial year for rural households whose adult members volunteer for unskilled manual labor.
In West Bengal, there are 34 million registered MGNREGA workers, with the Centre covering 90% of the scheme’s budget.
Case Title: PASCHIM BANGA KHET MAZDOOR SAMITY AND ANR. vs UOI AND ORS , WPA(P)/237/2023