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Gujarat government yet to get Rs 158.98 cr grant from Delhi under MGNREGA Act: Min to Cong query in State Assembly

Speaking on the budgetary demands of the Rural Development Department, Chaudhary said, “The objective of the Act is to ensure 100 days employment for a small farmer who takes only one crop, who does not have any other means to earn money so that he doesn’t have to migrate and can take care of his children’s education.”

Minister of State for Rural Development Kunvarji Halpati (x/@kunvarjihalpati)

The Gujarat government is awaiting a grant of Rs 158.98 crore under the MGNREGA Act — which is a centrally-sponsored scheme — said Minister of State for Rural Development Kunvarji Halpati adding that the dues of workers will be “paid at the earliest”.

Halpati made these remarks during the ongoing Gujarat Assembly session while replying to a query of Congress MLA from Khedbrahma Tushar Chaudhary. The MLA on Friday raised the issue of non-payment of dues under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) to workers for the past over two months and demanded reasons behind the same.

Speaking on the budgetary demands of the Rural Development Department, Chaudhary said, “The objective of the Act is to ensure 100 days employment for a small farmer who takes only one crop, who does not have any other means to earn money so that he doesn’t have to migrate and can take care of his children’s education.”

Chaudhary added, “There is a statutory provision that you have to compulsorily make the payment to a labour for his work within 15 days.”

He then said that in his Khedbhrahma constituency alone, dues of such labourers under MGNREGA are over Rs 2 crore. “This figure is only of Khedbrahma constituency, but it should be checked across the state as to why there is a delay in the payment of dues,” Chaudhary added. In his reply to the issue, minister Halpati said that MGNREGA is a “centrally sponsored scheme and the daily wage of Rs 158.98 crore for workers are pending from January 26, 2025 to March 21, 2025 and a proposal for the fund has been sent to the central government”. “The dues will be paid to the beneficiaries’ bank accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) as soon as the funds are available,” Halpati said. He added that the Rural Development ministry of the central government has been informed about this through five letters and the payment will be done “at the earliest”.

Parimal A Dabhi

Parimal A Dabhi works with The Indian Express, focusing on the state of Gujarat. Leveraging his seniority and access, Dabhi is recognized for his reporting on the complex interplay of law, politics, social justice, and governance within the region. Expertise & Authority (E-E-A-T) Core Authority (Social Justice and Law): Dabhi is a key source for in-depth coverage of caste-based violence, discrimination, and the state's response to social movements, particularly those involving Dalit and OBC communities. His reporting focuses on the societal and legal fallout of these issues: Caste and Discrimination: He has reported extensively on social boycotts and instances of violence against Dalits (such as the attack on a Dalit wedding party in Patan), the community's demands (like refusing to pick carcasses), and the political responses from leaders like Jignesh Mevani. Judicial and Legal Affairs: He tracks significant, high-stakes legal cases and judgments that set precedents in Gujarat, including the convictions under the stringent Gujarat Animal Preservation Act (cow slaughter), and developments in cases involving former police officers facing charges of wrongful confinement. Political and Administrative Oversight: Dabhi provides essential coverage of the inner workings of the state government and the opposition, ensuring a high degree of Trustworthiness in political analysis: State Assembly Proceedings: He frequently reports directly from the Gujarat Assembly, covering Question Hour, debates on budgetary demands for departments like Social Justice, and ministerial statements on issues like illegal mining, job quotas for locals, and satellite-based farm loss surveys. Electoral Politics: His work details key political developments, including election analysis (voter turnout records), party organizational changes (like the end of C R Patil’s tenure as BJP chief), and campaign dynamics. ... Read More

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