Rajya Sabha: No dilution in MGNREGA scheme launched during UPA govt

The government on Thursday allayed apprehensions over continuance or dilution of MGNREGA scheme launched during the previous UPA rule and said all necessary funds have been released. “There is no ambiguity about the government’s intention. The scheme will continue in all the 6,500 blocks,” Rural Development Minister Birender Singh said in Rajya Sabha. [caption id=“attachment_1825533” align=“alignleft” width=“380” class=" “]  Representational image. Reuters[/caption] He was replying to a Calling Attention motion on the reported move of the government to bring about changes in the MGNREGA by restricting the area of work and reducing the wage component of the fund allocation. Several members including former Rural Development Jairam Ramesh had sought a categorical reply from the Minister on whether the NDA government proposes to amend the Act and referred to a reported circular, which said the programme would be restricted to 2,500 blocks. Singh clarified that the programme would rather be “intensified” in the 2,500 blocks and would continue in rest of the country. He said that in this fiscal alone the Centre has already made a payment of Rs. 23,000 crore as against the demand of Rs. 34,000 crore. During the last financial year, the demand was Rs. 33,000 crore. The Minister also refuted allegations of some States being denied funds under the programme, saying funds are released only after audit reports are received from the States. PTI