Close on the heels of reports of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) running out of funds halfway through the financial year, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday demanded that the Centre release the outstanding of ₹1,088.72 crore.
Mr. Patnaik also demanded enhancement of the labour budget of Odisha under the MGNREGS to 25 crore person days for the year 2021-22.
He shot off a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi drawing his attention to pending liabilities of ₹1,088.72 crore (₹377.91 crore as wage component and ₹710.8I crore as material component) under the MGNREGS for Odisha.
“Timely payment of wages to poor jobseekers is the fundamental guarantee under the MGNREG Act. Similarly, timely release of payment for material is critical for creation of tangible and durable assets under the MGNREGS,” Mr. Patnaik mentioned in the letter.
The Chief Minister sought the Prime Minister’s direction to the Ministry of Rural Development for timely release of funds.
Mr. Patnaik pointed out that significant number of returnee migrants stayed back due to the reduced level of economic activities during the pandemic.
“This has led to demand for employment under the MGNREGS in villages. Therefore, the labour budget of Odisha under the MGNREGS may be enhanced to 25 crore person days for 2021-22,” he pointed out.
Recently, activists of the Odisha Khadya Adhikar Abhijan and the Odisha Shramajeebee Manch said the Government must focus on providing jobs to job seekers and ensure participation from minority categories.