Unpaid for months, Bengal MNREGA workers suffer amid centre vs state tussle

MNERGA workers in West Bengal claimed that they have not been paid for months (Photo: India Today)

By Suryagni Roy: With the West Bengal and Central governments continuing their tussle over the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) fund disbursement, workers of 100 days' work are at the receiving end. According to the state government, the state has not been paid funds for paying workers under the MNREGA scheme since December 2021.

Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee has time and again stated that the state cannot pay due to workers' of 100 days work, due to the non payment of funds from Centre.

The MNREGA is a social security and employment scheme aimed at providing at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in a fiscal year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.It comes under the Ministry of Rural Development and was implemented in 2006.

According to the ministry, pending liabilities for the material component under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS for states and UT in the financial year between 2021 and 2023 was Rs 2,685 crores and for the 'wage component' under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS for 2021 and 2023 was a total of Rs 2,748.

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During the Question Hour in the House, Trinamool MP Jawahar Sircar asked the Rural Development Ministry for details on the States that hadn’t received any funds in the ongoing financial year under the MGNREGA.

India Today travelled to Bhangar in South 24 Parganas to interact with such families who claim that they are yet to be paid.

MNREGA WORKERS NARRATE PLIGHT

Rabiya Bibi of Chakmaricha is the wife of Mukhtar Khan who worked in the MNREGA scheme between 2018-19. They claimed that they had not been paid completely. Mukhtar has restored to selling vegetables to earn his living.

"My husband worked last in 2019, we haven't got that amount yet. Approximately, it should be around 20-22,000 rupees that he should get. The government should know why they are not paying. How will we know? We are poor people. My husband now sells vegetables to earn a living. Mostly he sits at home now. I have a family of 4 people, it is hard to feed all of them. If the government gives us the money, it will be good for us", said Rabiya, along with her son Miraj.

41-year-old Hakim Khan worked as a labourer and he claimed that local authorities told him that his payment would take time.

"I live in Chakmaricha anchal. I used to work in 2019-20, for which I have not been paid yet. The daily wise wage was around Rs 200. It has come down to Rs 20-25000. BDO says it will take time but we will get it.We have a family of 5 people. To earn money for them, I am working as a daily labourer. I am illiterate, how will I understand the nitty gritties of finances?" said Hakim.

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Septuagenarian Sayera Bibi, narrated how she has been waiting to get her dues for the past couple of years.

"It is been 2 years since I have worked for 100 days. I used to cut land and remove the land. It is more than 2 years if not less that I have not received any money for the work I did. I have been requesting help from others for finances. I am hopeful that I will get my due" said Sayera Bibi.

As the war between Centre and State continues over funds, Centre has decided to make attendance of the 100 days' work mandatory through an app. As per the directive, the new system will begin from January 1, 2023 and this decision of the Union Ministry of Rural Development is to 'ensure transparency of work'.

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