Centre to resolve Bengal's MNREGA fund dispute probably before Lok Sabha elections

The long-standing dispute over the non-payment of funds under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) in West Bengal may be inching closer to resolution, with the Central Government motivated to address the issue before the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Governor CV Anand Bose's intervention has opened the door to potential progress.

In a notable development, Governor Anand Bose held discussions with Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders, including Abhishek Banerjee, on the matter, after which he engaged with Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Giriraj Singh. Following these discussions, Minister Singh committed to taking steps to resolve the ongoing payment dispute.

While officials have indicated that the outstanding funds may be released soon, no specific timeframe has been provided. However, the release of dues will be contingent on specific conditions, including the submission of an audit report and the removal of fake job cardholders. The central government had previously cited non-compliance with its guidelines as the reason for withholding funds for the rural employment scheme in West Bengal, as outlined in Section 27 of MNREGA, 2005.

It is worth noting that the Trinamool Congress had previously staged protests, including a demonstration at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, advocating for the release of MNREGA funds. Subsequently, Abhishek Banerjee initiated a five-day strike outside Raj Bhavan in pursuit of a resolution.