Calcutta HC directs Centre to renew MGNREGA in West Bengal from August

Jun 18, 2025 03:44 PM IST Centre suspended MGNREGA funding to West Bengal in March 2022, citing widespread irregularities within the scheme’s implementation. The Calcutta excessive court docket on Wednesday directed the Centre to implement the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) from August 1. The Calcutta excessive court docket. (File Photo)(HT_PRINT) The court docket mentioned that the central authorities can impose any particular situation to forestall the recurrence of previous irregularities.  Centre suspended MGNREGA funding to West Bengal in March 2022, citing widespread irregularities within the scheme’s implementation. According to RTI replies, the choice adopted inspections of 63 worksites, with inconsistencies reported in 31 areas. Also Read | Mallikarjun Kharge backs advice for mounted MGNREGA wage, assaults govt West Bengal acquired ₹7,507.80 crore in fiscal yr 2021-22 underneath MGNREGA however has acquired no funds within the following three fiscal years. In April, the Calcutta excessive court docket had noticed that the National Rural Employment Guarantee (NREG) Act doesn’t enable for indefinite suspension of the scheme’s implementation attributable to complaints.  It had emphasised that acceptable remedial measures have to be undertaken inside an affordable timeframe. Also Read | Opposition MPs protest in Lok Sabha over MGNREGA funds The court docket had requested the Centre to make clear why the scheme shouldn’t be resumed throughout West Bengal — excluding Purba Bardhaman, Hooghly, Malda, and the Darjeeling (GTA) areas — the place allegations of fund misappropriation have surfaced. HT had earlier reported that although the Centre halted funds underneath MGNREGA for West Bengal since March 2022, citing “financial misappropriation”, whilst knowledge obtained from the Union ministry of rural growth confirmed a majority of states reporting misappropriation of the federal scheme funds, however none of them has confronted restrictions within the final three fiscal years because the japanese state had. A report by the standing committee on rural growth, introduced within the Lok Sabha in March, had highlighted the “severe consequences” of the continued suspension of funds to West Bengal, together with elevated misery migration and disruptions in rural growth initiatives. Also Read | Over 40% of embezzled MGNREGA funds recovered in Bengal, LS instructed MGNREGA is a demand-driven employment scheme that ensures 100 days of wage employment every monetary yr to rural households whose grownup members volunteer for unskilled guide work. There are 34 million registered MGNREGA employees in West Bengal. Centre bears 90% of the scheme’s finances.