MGNREGS Workers in West Bengal Face Hardship as Rahul Gandhi Appeals to PM Modi for Urgent Action
West Bengal, February 12 : The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGS) program is allegedly failing to provide for the requirements of MGNREGS workers in West Bengal, according to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi. An essential safety net for rural residents was intended to be provided by the MGNREGS program. Gandhi requested that the central government intervene immediately in a letter dated February 10, drawing attention to the “devastating plight” of these laborers. Narendra Modi, the prime minister, received the letter.
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi writes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi
— ANI (@ANI) February 12, 2024
The letter reads, "I am writing to you regarding the devastating plight of MGREGS workers in West Bengal, and their relentless fight for justice. During my recent visit to West Bengal as part of the Bharat Jodo… pic.twitter.com/39zjxvuXTW
Stopped Funds and Unpaid Wages: Rahul Gandhi’s letter to PM Modi highlights the serious problem of West Bengal’s lack of national funding since March 2022. Due to this, “lakhs of our brothers and sisters” are suffering greatly as a result of being refused employment and pay under the MGNREGS. In addition, a lot of laborers who finished their jobs in 2021 are still underpaid because of a lack of funding.
Significant Drop in Participation: The effects of this circumstance go beyond unpaid salaries. Rahul Gandhi notes a “drastic decline” in the number of homes receiving employment under the MGNREGS, with just 8,000 households receiving work in 2023–24 compared to 75 lakh in 2021–22. Vulnerable groups such as women, Scheduled Castes (SCs), and Scheduled Tribes (STs) are disproportionately affected by this sharp reduction, which leaves them without essential income and forces them to migrate in “distress.”
MGNREGS: A Lifeline in Crisis : Rahul Gandhi’s letter to PM Modi highlights the essential role MGNREGS plays in rural areas, particularly during difficult times. . For many, it serves as “the only safety net in times of crisis” and a “surety source of livelihood,” according to him. These communities suffer severe financial hardship and uncertainty if they are unable to get MGNREGS labor and timely salary payments.
Call for Action: Rahul Gandhi stresses that the Union government must “rise above our political differences” and act immediately, acknowledging the gravity of the issue. He requests that money be made available in order to pay outstanding payments and guarantee that the program successfully satisfies the need for labor. Regardless of party membership, he emphasizes in his letter the significance of maintaining “social, political, and economic justice” for all.