MGNREGA fraud: 5.82 lakh South 24 Parganas job card holders skip e-KYC under new VB-G RAM G scheme
Synopsis
A mandatory Aadhaar-based e-KYC filter for West Bengal's new rural employment scheme has exposed what state officials allege is large-scale fraud — nearly 5.82 lakh job card holders in South 24 Parganas alone have gone silent, with officials suspecting fake registrations, payments to deceased persons, and funds drawn in the names of migrant workers under the previous TMC government.
Key Takeaways
5,82,998 job card holders in South 24 Parganas have e-KYC pending, out of a total of 23,40,050 across 29 blocks .
These beneficiaries face exclusion from the VB-G RAM G scheme , which came into effect in West Bengal on 1 July 2025 .
State officials allege the non-compliance indicates fake job card holders who illegally drew MGNREGA benefits under the previous TMC regime.
Four suspected reasons: fear of biometric detection, payments to deceased beneficiaries , name mismatches , and funds in the names of migrant workers .
Worst-affected blocks include Kulpi , Patharpratima , Gosaba , and Canning-1 and Canning-2 .
Officials at Nabanna say district-wise data will be compiled and released shortly, suggesting the total figure could rise significantly.
Nearly 5.82 lakh beneficiaries of the 100-day job scheme in South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, face exclusion from the newly launched Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) — or VB-G RAM G — scheme after failing to complete mandatory Aadhaar-based e-KYC verification. State officials allege the mass non-compliance points to large-scale irregularities in the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) during the previous Trinamool Congress (TMC) government led by Mamata Banerjee.
Scale of the Problem
Out of 23,40,050 job card holders across 29 blocks in South 24 Parganas district, 5,82,998 have e-KYC pending as of 1 July 2025 — the date on which the VB-G RAM G scheme came into effect in West Bengal. The VB-G RAM G scheme mandates Aadhaar-linked identity verification as a prerequisite for enrolment, making it impossible for those with incomplete e-KYC to access benefits.
A state government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the filtering process exposed what they described as systemic fraud. 'Our strong suspicion is that these 5.82 lakh odd beneficiaries had been fake job card holders who had been enjoying the benefits of the previous MGNREGA scheme so far illegally,' the official alleged.
Four Reasons Cited for Non-Compliance
State officials have identified four possible explanations for why these beneficiaries have not come forward to update their e-KYC. The first is fear of biometric identification as a fake job card holder. The second is the possibility that funds were drawn in the names of deceased beneficiaries, and updating KYC would expose that forgery. The third is a name mismatch between Aadhaar cards and job cards. The fourth involves migrant workers currently employed in other states, in whose names money may have been allotted without their knowledge or participation.
Block Development Officers (BDOs) across South 24 Parganas reportedly issued repeated instructions urging the missing beneficiaries to complete their e-KYC, but the appeals drew no response, according to the official.
Worst-Affected Blocks
The blocks recording the highest numbers of non-compliant beneficiaries include Kulpi, Patharpratima, Baruipur, Gosaba, Basanti, Magrahat-I, Kultali, Canning-1, and Canning-2. These are largely rural and coastal blocks in one of West Bengal's most populous and economically vulnerable districts.
What Comes Next
Officials at the state secretariat of Nabanna indicated that the South 24 Parganas data is only the beginning. 'This, as we think, is just the tip of the iceberg. Shortly, detailed and district-wise data on the missing beneficiaries will be compiled and released,' the official claimed. A district-by-district audit is expected to widen the scope of alleged irregularities significantly. The findings are likely to intensify political scrutiny of the previous TMC administration's handling of MGNREGA funds across West Bengal.
Point of View
It points to a structural failure in MGNREGA implementation, whether through deliberate fraud or chronic data neglect. The state government's framing squarely blames the previous TMC administration, but it must also explain why BDO-level alerts went unheeded for so long under the current dispensation. The real accountability test will come when the promised district-wise data is released — and whether it leads to recoveries or merely headlines.
NationPress
1 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are 5.82 lakh MGNREGA beneficiaries in South 24 Parganas losing access to the new scheme?
These job card holders have not completed mandatory Aadhaar-based e-KYC verification, which is a prerequisite for enrolment in the VB-G RAM G scheme that replaced MGNREGA in West Bengal from 1 July 2025. Without e-KYC, they cannot be enrolled in the new scheme.
What is the VB-G RAM G scheme?
The Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), or VB-G RAM G, is the new rural employment scheme that came into effect in West Bengal on 1 July 2025. It replaces the earlier MGNREGA framework and mandates Aadhaar-linked identity verification for all beneficiaries.
What irregularities are state officials alleging under the previous TMC regime?
State officials allege that many of the 5.82 lakh non-compliant job card holders were fake beneficiaries who illegally drew MGNREGA funds. Suspected fraud includes payments made in the names of deceased persons and migrant workers, as well as name mismatches between Aadhaar and job cards.
Which blocks in South 24 Parganas have the most missing beneficiaries?
The blocks with the highest numbers of e-KYC non-compliant beneficiaries are Kulpi, Patharpratima, Baruipur, Gosaba, Basanti, Magrahat-I, Kultali, Canning-1, and Canning-2 — all largely rural and coastal areas of the district.
Will the audit extend beyond South 24 Parganas?
Yes, according to state officials at Nabanna, South 24 Parganas is described as 'just the tip of the iceberg.' A detailed district-wise compilation of missing beneficiaries is expected to be released shortly, which could significantly expand the total number of flagged job card holders across West Bengal.
