The central government on Tuesday denied allegations of discrimination in MGNREGA fund distribution, as opposition MPs protested in Lok Sabha over delayed wage payments under the rural employment scheme.
During Question Hour, DMK and Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs stormed the well of the House, prompting Speaker Om Birla to urge them to return to their seats. As the protests continued, the House was adjourned till 12 PM.
🗣️ “Do not politicize the questions raised during Question Hour,” Birla urged the Opposition.
📌 Kerala & Tamil Nadu Demand Pending MGNREGA Dues
🔹 Congress MP Adoor Prakash (Kerala) raised concerns over a decline in workforce participation due to payment delays and low wages.
🔹 Workers in Kerala have not been paid for three months; ₹811 crore remains unpaid.
🔹 Parliamentary Standing Committee recommends:
✔️ Linking wages to inflation
✔️ Increasing workdays to 150
🗣️ “Will the government release the pending dues without delay?” – Adoor Prakash asked.
🔹 DMK MP Kanimozhi (Tamil Nadu) highlighted a ₹4,034 crore payment delay for over five months.
🔹 Tamil Nadu CM wrote to PM Modi, but payments are still pending.
🔹 MGNREGA law mandates 0.05% interest penalty for payments delayed beyond 15 days.
🗣️ “The scheme is demand-driven. If payments are delayed, workers must be compensated with interest.” – Kanimozhi
💰 Govt’s Response: Funds Will Be Released Soon
Minister of State for Rural Development Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani refuted claims of fund withholding:
🔹 Kerala has already received ₹3,000 crore this year (₹3,500 crore last year).
🔹 Tamil Nadu received ₹7,300 crore; total allocation expected to exceed ₹10,000 crore.
🔹 Payments are ongoing, pending amounts will be cleared in a few weeks.
🗣️ “There is no question of bias. Delays are handled as per MGNREGA law, where states initially pay and get reimbursed by the Centre.”
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also defended the government:
🔹 No state is discriminated against, whether Tamil Nadu or West Bengal.
🔹 Under UPA (2006-2014), only ₹111 crore was allocated for person-days in Bengal.
🔹 Under NDA, ₹54,515 crore has been allocated, creating 239 crore person-days.
🔹 All pending dues, including material costs, will be cleared soon.
🗣️ “The Modi government has always ensured fair allocation of MGNREGA funds.”
