GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 525
ANSWERED ON 03/02/2026
MGNREGS IN WEST BENGAL
525. Smt. Bag Mitali:
MrPathan Yusuf:
Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENTbe pleased to state:
(a) the details and total amount of funds (in Rs.) owed to the State
of West Bengal underMahatma Gandhi National Rural
Employment...
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 525 ANSWERED ON 03/02/2026 MGNREGS IN WEST BENGAL
525. Smt. Bag Mitali:
MrPathan Yusuf:
Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENTbe pleased to state:
(a) the details and total amount of funds (in Rs.) owed to the State of West Bengal underMahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS);
(b) whether the Government has fixed a timeline to disburse all pending dues to the State ofWest Bengal, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
(c) whether the Government intends to give any additional compensation for its lapses to 59lakh MGNREGS workers in Bengal, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI KAMLESH PASWAN)
(a)to (c): The release of funds to the State of West Bengal under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (Mahatma Gandhi NREGS) was stopped with effect from 09.03.2022 by invoking the provisions of Section 27 of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005, owing to continued non-compliance with the directives of the Central Government by the State.
However, in compliance with the order of the Hon’ble Calcutta High Court dated 18.06.2025, this Department has issued orders dated 06.12.2025 for the resumption of the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi NREGS in the State of West Bengal, which is subject to mandatory compliance with the special conditions, so as Page 1 of 2to facilitate the effective and lawful implementation of the Scheme in the State. Accordingly State Government has been requested to submit the Labour Budget proposal for the current Financial Year 2025-26 for consideration of the Empowered Committee, Mahatma Gandhi NREGS, which is still awaited.
As per NREGASoft, the total pending liability pertaining to the State of West Bengal (as on 08.03.2022) stands at ₹3082.52 crore, comprising ₹1457.22 crore under the wage component, ₹1607.68 crore under the material component, and ₹17.62 crore under the administrative component. The admissibility of this liability is subject to verification by the Central Government.
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