State Disbursed Over 1.10 Lakh Crores by Centre, Yet West Bengal Lags Behind on Welfare Schemes, According to Shivraj Singh Chouhan
In a recent statement, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has accused the West Bengal government of significant irregularities in the implementation of key rural development schemes, including the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G).
The allegations stem from findings during multiple visits by Central teams to 19 districts between 2019 and 2022. These teams uncovered evidence of absent work at designated sites, violations of MGNREGA rules by dividing work into smaller portions, misappropriation of funds allocated under the schemes, and flouting established norms and guidelines.
These irregularities have resulted in the Centre withholding approval and funds, affecting the disbursement of wages and materials cost-sharing under these schemes. This has led to a backlog of pending liabilities of over ₹3,000 crore in unpaid wages and costs.
The Union Minister also criticised the West Bengal government for lapses in implementing rural welfare schemes, stating that the state government has failed in trust, responsibility, and transparency. Despite repeated requests, the government has failed to ensure transparency or take corrective measures.
The central government has allocated over Rs 1.10 lakh crore to West Bengal since the 2014-15 financial year through various rural development programmes. This includes Rs 54,465 crore for MGNREGA, Rs 8,389 crore under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), Rs 3,881 crore through the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), and Rs 16,505 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).
Under PMAY-G, Rs 25,798 crore was released to West Bengal. However, Chouhan raised concerns over the scheme, alleging that the state government removed eligible beneficiaries, selected ineligible families, and violated central guidelines. These complaints were confirmed by both national and central monitoring teams for the PMAY-G scheme.
Despite the alleged irregularities, the central government remains firmly committed to the development and welfare of the people of West Bengal. The Minister stated that these allocations reflect the central government's efforts to improve housing, employment, roads, and livelihoods for the poor in West Bengal.
However, the implementation of MGNREGA in West Bengal has been delayed due to these concerns, with the state government’s labour budget for MGNREGA for 2025-26 yet to be cleared by the Centre. This delay has resulted in many farmers yet to receive the 20th installment of the PM-KISAN, released on August 2, 2025.
The Union Minister's statement has prompted judicial oversight, with the Calcutta High Court ordering the resumption of MGNREGA in the state from August 1 with safeguards against corruption. The central government continues to monitor the situation closely and advocates for transparency and adherence to rules in the implementation of rural development schemes.
Finance matters related to the implementation of rural development schemes, such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G), have been affected by allegations of irregularities and violations of rules by the West Bengal government, as highlighted in a recent central government statement. These business-related concerns have led to a backlog of pending liabilities of over ₹3,000 crore in unpaid wages and costs, and have prompted the judicial oversight of the Calcutta High Court to order the resumption of MGNREGA in the state from August 1 with safeguards against corruption. The ongoing politics surrounding these issues highlight the need for transparency and adherence to rules in the implementation of rural development schemes, as reported in general-news outlets.
