Tamil Nadu Minister and MP Kanimozhi Appeal to FM Sitharaman for MGNREGS Fund Release
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Synopsis
Tamil Nadu's Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu and MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi urged Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to expedite the release of Rs 1,056 crore dues under MGNREGS, highlighting the importance of timely funds for rural employment initiatives.
Key Takeaways
- Urgent request for MGNREGS fund release.
- Rs 1,056 crore dues pending.
- Active participation of 91 lakh workers.
- 86% of employment benefits women.
- MGNREGS is crucial for rural employment.
Chennai, Jan 27 (NationPress) Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu, joined by DMK Deputy General Secretary and MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, met with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi to advocate for the prompt release of outstanding dues related to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).
In a statement shared on the social media platform X, Thennarasu remarked, “The Chief Minister urged the Prime Minister on January 13 to ensure the immediate release of Rs 1,056 crore to the state government.”
The delegation stressed the urgent requirement for the Union Ministry of Rural Development to disburse the overdue funds without any further postponement. Tamil Nadu Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department Additional Secretary Gagandeep Singh Bedi was also present during the meeting alongside Thennarasu and Kanimozhi.
Previously, on January 13, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin had addressed a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting the disbursal of outstanding wage dues amounting to Rs 1,056 crore under MGNREGS. In his correspondence, the Chief Minister pointed out that the state had depleted its allocated wage funds for the year, leading to unpaid wages for workers over the past two months.
The Chief Minister further noted, “In 2024-25, Tamil Nadu recorded 23.36 crore person-days of wage employment, surpassing the Labour Budget target of 20 crore person-days as of January 1.” He also indicated that the state government had submitted a request to the Ministry of Rural Development on November 23, 2024, proposing an increase in the Labour Budget for Tamil Nadu from 20 crore person-days to 35 crore person-days.
Stalin emphasized that approximately 91 lakh workers from 76 lakh households are actively engaged in MGNREGS in Tamil Nadu. He added that 86 percent of the employment generated under this scheme is afforded to women, while 29 percent of the workforce belongs to SC/ST households. Additionally, around 1 lakh differently-abled workers receive employment annually under the program.
The Chief Minister highlighted that MGNREGS is a vital wage employment initiative for rural communities and reaffirmed Tamil Nadu's role in effectively implementing the scheme.
