Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday shot off a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting timely release of funds for wage and material payment under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).
“I would like to draw your kind attention that Rs 1088.72 crore liabilities are pending (Rs 377.91 crore as wage component and Rs 710.81 crore as material component) under MGNREGS for Odisha,” the CM stated in the letter.
“Timely payment of wages to the poor jobseekers is the fundamental guarantee under the MGNREG Act. Similarly, timely release of payment for material is critical for creation of tangible and durable assets under MGNREGS,” the CM stressed.
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He requested the PM to instruct the Ministry of Rural Development for timely release of funds for wage and material payment under MGNREGS.
The CM also demanded enhancement of labour budget of the State under the MGNREGS to 25 crore person days for the year 2021-22.
“I would like to further draw your kind attention that significant number of returnee migrants have stayed back due to reduced level of economic activities during the Covid pandemic. This has led to demand for wage employment under MGNREGS in villages,” the pointed out.
“Therefore, the labour budget of Odisha under MGNREGS may be enhanced to 25 Crore person days for the year 2021-22,” he added.
The CM also expressed his gratitude for taking robust measures for economic revival of rural areas in the post pandemic period.