The Centre has ordered resumption of MGNREGA in West Bengal with “immediate effect” by imposing “special conditions and regulatory measures”, three years after it suspended implementation of the rural job scheme in the state.
According to the sources, the Union Ministry of Rural Development issued an order to this effect on December 6 in compliance with the Calcutta HC directions, stating that “the Department of Rural Development hereby resumes the prospective implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA in the State of West Bengal with immediate effect.”
This was also conveyed to the West Bengal government.
“However, such resumption is subject to mandatory adherence to the special conditions and regulatory measures, as directed by the Hon’ble High Court, for ensuring transparency and integrity in the implementation. Special conditions for resumption of the scheme in the State of West Bengal are attached at Annexure A,” the order said.
The Annexure A of the order mentions special conditions for Bengal in respect to job cards and biometric attendance, financial management/labour budget, works, monitoring and accountability, recovery and penal action and other conditions.
On October 27, the top court had dismissed the Centre’s Special Leave Petition challenging the HC’s June 18 order directing implementation of the MGNREGS in Bengal prospectively from August 1, 2025 and leaving it on the Centre to impose “special conditions”. The Centre had stopped the release of funds to Bengal with effect from March 9, 2022, “due to non-compliance of directives of the Central Government”, by invoking Section 27 of the MGNREGA, 2005.
As per the order, “The State shall complete 100% e-KYC of all workers, and muster rolls will be issued after mandatory e-KYC only.” The Centre has also imposed a special condition regarding approval of the labour budget, which will be approved quarterly for Bengal. Usually, it is approved for the full year.
Relief ahead of Assembly polls
Before the rural job scheme was suspended, West Bengal was among the top states—51 to 80 lakh families availed it annually between 2014-15 and 2021-22. Now, with the Assembly elections in the state due next year, the resumption of the scheme would come as a relief to several families.
One of the special conditions is, “The State of West Bengal will be allotted a labour budget on a quarterly basis, based on performance and compliance with the special conditions imposed by the Department.”
Story continues below this ad
The Centre has also made clear to the CM Mamata Banerjee-led Bengal government that “no work with an estimated cost above Rs 20 lakh shall be permitted”.
“DPR to be made mandatory for all community works and to be approved by DM & DPC up to the value of Rs 20 lakh. All estimates are to be generated mandatorily via SECURE Soft,” the order said.
