Twitter
Advertisement

Experts say hike in MNREGA funds nominal

In an order on the ongoing Swaraj Abhiyan PIL; the SC directed the government to release adequate funds to the state government in time and even asked it to "shape up".

Latest News
article-main
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

Civil society groups on Wednesday said that the allocation to MNREGA has seen a mere 1% jump as opposed to reports of a 25% increase. "Last year’s allocation of Rs 38,500 crores was increased to Rs 47,500 crore by ​t​wo supplementary allocations during the course of the year," read a statement released by People’s Action for Employment Guarantee. 

The statement, signed by Aruna Roy, Shankar Singh and Nikhil Dey of the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan, Kamayani Swamy and Ashish Ranjan of the Jan Jagran Shakti Sangathan and Annie Raja of the National Federation of Indian Women, also said that as of now, 22 out of 34 States have negative balances. 

"As per the Ministry’s own data a total of Rs 3,469 crores in pending liabilities have already piled up, even as they have spent 93% of the funds available for this financial year. This is likely to dramatically go up over the next two months, as traditionally demand for work has peaked during this season," read the report.

In an order on the ongoing Swaraj Abhiyan PIL; the SC directed the government to release adequate funds to the state government in time and even asked it to "shape up".  

"Despite this, as per the Ministry’s mechanism of preparing indicative labour budgets, even to honour only the approved budget for the months of February 2017 and March 2017, nearly Rs 10,013 crores would be required (at the average cost per person day of Rs 228). This means that we would end the year with close to Rs 13,482 crores in pending liabilities, and a budgetary allocation that has not even kept pace with last year’s amount in real terms. At present 54% of the wage payments continue to be delayed, and as a result Rs. 231 crores of compensation to workers also remains due," read the statement. 

Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement