Chief Minister Raman Singh will meet Union Rural Development Minister Nitin Gadkari and convince him to release the entire quantum of funds for Chhattisgarh under MNREGA.
The Central Government had reduced the State’s MNREGA budget to Rs 1600 crore making a deficit of about Rs 900 crores for payment of wages under the scheme. While talking to media persons in the Assembly premises on Monday, Singh expressed serious concern over the matter and said that he will discuss the issue with Gadkari.
He said that he will try to get released the entire amount for the State under MNREGA. It is pertinent to mention that the State Government had sent a proposal to the Central Government of more than Rs 2700 crore under MNREGA. However, the Central Government had approved the budget of Rs 1600 crore only.
The reduction of Rs 900 crore in the proposed budget will create problems for the State to pay the wages for 100 employment days under MNREGA. According to sources there are about 42 lakh registered workers under MNREGA in the State and these workers get payment from the Central government at the rate of Rs 146 per day.
Chhattsigarh has been performing better than many states in providing employment under MNREGA and it has also received awards in past few years. But the reduction in budget this year will be a dent in the scheme in the State.