Congress Questions Centre Over MGNREGA Dues, Alleges Rural Employment Scheme Being Weakened

Ranchi: Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee spokesperson Vijay Shankar Nayak on Tuesday accused the BJP-led Central Government of weakening the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and demanded immediate release of pending wages and dues to the states.

Addressing a press statement, Nayak alleged that while the Centre is introducing new schemes, it has failed to clear pending MGNREGA liabilities. Citing figures presented in the Lok Sabha up to March 2026, he claimed that ?17,144.13 crore in MGNREGA dues to 34 states and Union Territories, including ?7,846.25 crore in workers' wages, remain unpaid. He questioned why the earnings of millions of rural workers had been withheld.

The Congress leader also alleged that nearly ?900 crore owed to Jharkhand and substantial dues to several other states were yet to be released. He criticised the Centre's reported proposal to shift 40 per cent of the financial burden of the scheme to state governments, saying the move would place additional pressure on state finances.

Nayak further opposed the proposal to suspend MGNREGA work for 60 days during the agricultural season, arguing that it would adversely affect both farmers and rural labourers. He maintained that such decisions ignored ground realities and could deepen the rural economic crisis.

He reiterated the Congress party's demand to raise MGNREGA wages to ?500 per day, stating that the existing wage rates were inadequate in view of rising inflation.

Seeking answers from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Nayak asked when pending wages and state dues would be released, why payments had been delayed, and whether the Centre intended to strengthen or weaken MGNREGA. He asserted that rural development and employment security were essential for achieving inclusive economic growth