Concerned over MGNREGS fund discount: Congress president Sonia Gandhi

By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: During the Zero Hour in Lok Sabha on Thursday, Congress president Sonia Gandhi voiced concern over the budgetary minimize for the agricultural employment assure scheme (MGNREGS). She contended that a number of states have a adverse steadiness of their accounts to the tune of Rs 5,000 crore which has led to delays in funds to employees.

Gandhi additional advised the federal government make ample allocations to MGNREGS, a scheme that had helped poor and marginalised individuals through the COVID-19 pandemic and ensured funds inside 15 days.

Gandhi mentioned the MGNREGS, which was mocked by some individuals, had offered well timed assist to crores of poor households through the pandemic and performed a optimistic function in serving to the federal government. “Still, there is a regular reduction in the budgetary allocation for MGNREGS. This year the budget for MGNREGS is 35 per cent less than that of 2020. This comes at a time when unemployment is rising continuously,” she mentioned.

However, Rural Development Minister Giriraj Singh and I&B Minister Anurag Thakur hit again, accusing her of “politicising” the problem. The ministers said that her remarks had been “far from the truth”.

“The issue raised is far from the truth. The budgetary allocation for MGNREGS in 2013-14 (UPA years) was Rs 33,000 crore, whereas under Prime Minister Narendra Modi it had reached Rs 1.12 lakh crore. No need to show us the mirror,” Singh mentioned.

Gandhi additionally mentioned that the states had been advised that their labour funds is not going to be authorized except they meet situations associated to social audit. “Social audit should be made effective but workers can’t be punished by stopping the money for this. I request the Centre to allocate adequate funds, ensure payment within 15 days of work, and pay compensation in case of delay,” she mentioned.