Archive · 24 Jul 2025
Centre Mulls Bengal MGNREGA Order, Panel Criticizes Response
Imagine a program called MGNREGA that gives people in the countryside jobs.
It's supposed to give people up to 100 days of work each year.
In Bengal, this program was stopped for a while.
Now, a court told the government to restart it.
The government is deciding what to do: follow the court order or appeal to a higher court.
Some people in the government also think the payment of workers is not regular and may not want to release funds.
Also, some people in the government do not want to increase the number of days the workers can work and the amount they get paid, so another group of people is criticizing them.
Centre is deciding whether to implement the Calcutta High Court order to restart MGNREGA in Bengal.
The MGNREGA scheme has been halted in Bengal for more than three years.
Trinamool members questioned the government on the High Court order and pending wage payments.
The Rural Development Minister stated the order is under review.
A parliamentary panel criticized the Centre's justification for not increasing MGNREGA working days and wages.
- Who
- The Union government, the Calcutta High Court, and a parliamentary panel are involved.
- What
- The central government is deciding how to proceed with the MGNREGA scheme in West Bengal following a court order and criticisms from a parliamentary panel.
- When
- The Calcutta High Court issued its order on June 18.
- Where
- West Bengal, India.
- Why
- The government is reviewing the High Court's order regarding MGNREGA to decide on implementation or appeal and to address issues raised by the parliamentary panel.
Government
Parliamentary Panel
MGNREGA Implementation
Government
The government is studying the Calcutta High Court's order and considering an appeal.
Parliamentary Panel
The parliamentary panel criticized the government's response as generic and not addressing the need for increased working days and wages.
Wage Rate Calculation
Government
The government states that the existing law allows for the calculation of wage rates based on CPI-AL.
Parliamentary Panel
The panel wants the wage rates linked with an index commensurate with national inflation
- MGNREGA Aim
- Provide up to 100 days of unskilled work per rural household annually
- Bengal Scheme Status
- On hold for over three years
- Court Order
- Restart the scheme in Bengal
- Panel's Demand
- Increase working days to 150 and wage rates to ₹200
- Wage Revision
- Based on CPI-AL
- Panel's Response
- Rejected the govt. reply as "stereotype"
