BJP Accuses West Bengal Government of Delaying MGNREGA Wage Payments Due to Labour Budget Issues
Synopsis
The BJP has claimed that the delay in the release of MGNREGA wages in West Bengal is due to the state government's failure to submit the necessary labour budget proposal. This ongoing issue has sparked a significant political dispute between the BJP and the ruling Trinamool Congress.
Key Takeaways
BJP accuses West Bengal government of delaying MGNREGA wage payments.
Claims center awaits submission of labour budget proposal .
Payments have been suspended for nearly three years.
Political tension grows between BJP and TMC .
Calcutta High Court orders the release of funds.
Kolkata, March 11 (NationPress) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused the West Bengal government on Wednesday of causing delays in the disbursement of wages under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) due to its failure to present the labour budget proposal. In a social media post, Amit Malviya, the chief of BJP's Information Technology Cell and the party's central observer for West Bengal, stated that this issue was highlighted in a parliamentary reply from Union Minister of State for Rural Development Kamlesh Paswan. This response addressed an unstarred question posed by Pratima Mondal, a Trinamool Congress member of Parliament from Jaynagar in South 24 Parganas district.
Malviya indicated that the parliamentary response revealed that the Centre has been awaiting the submission of West Bengal's labour budget proposal for MGNREGA. He remarked, “The Lok Sabha document illustrates that the Central government has been waiting for the West Bengal government's labour budget proposal for MGNREGA, which remains unsubmitted despite multiple reminders!”
He further asserted that the parliamentary reply pinpointed the source of the wage payment delays for workers under the scheme within the state. “It is the TMC's own state government that is stalling the files!” he claimed.
In West Bengal, MGNREGA payments have been on hold for nearly three years, leading to an ongoing political clash between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the BJP. The Union government contends that the funds have been withheld due to alleged widespread irregularities associated with the scheme's implementation.
Last June, the Calcutta High Court ordered the Union government to release the pending MGNREGA funds for West Bengal while hearing a petition from the Paschim Banga Khet Majoor Samity. The court noted that while the Centre could impose conditions on fund disbursement, it could not indefinitely halt payments.
Subsequently, the Centre challenged the court's order in the Supreme Court. A month ago, a bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta upheld the High Court's ruling and declined to intervene in the case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are the MGNREGA payments delayed in West Bengal?
Payments are delayed due to the West Bengal government's failure to submit its labour budget proposal, as claimed by the BJP.
Who is Amit Malviya?
Amit Malviya is the chief of the BJP's Information Technology Cell and a key observer for the party in West Bengal.
What has the Union government stated about the funds?
The Union government has indicated that funds have been withheld due to alleged irregularities in the implementation of MGNREGA in West Bengal.
What did the Calcutta High Court rule regarding MGNREGA funds?
The Calcutta High Court directed the Union government to release pending MGNREGA funds while stating that the Centre cannot indefinitely stop payments.
