Centre delaying MGNREGA payments: Krishna Byregowda

BENGALURU:  After maintaining a consistent high for months in job-generation under Mahatma Gandhi National rural employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), Karnataka has seen a sudden dip of 45 per cent in January. Rural Development and Panchayat Raj minister Krishna Byregowda has pointed fingers at the Narendra Modi-led Union government for the slowdown alleging that the delay in payments by the Centre has disincentivised the programme.

“The Union government owes Karnataka alone Rs 2,059 crore under MGNREGA, including labour and material cost. Across the country, the pending/arrears stand at a whopping Rs 12,713 crore,” Byregowda said.  He accused the Centre of deliberately trying to stall the scheme.

Despite the act mandating that labour payments need to be done within 15 days, the Union government, Byregowda said, hasn’t made a single payment since December 16, 2018.  

Person-days in Karnataka 
April 201838 lakh 
May 2018 48lakh
June 2018 62 lakh 
July 2018 76 lakh 
August 2018 82 lakh 
September 2018 75 lakh 
October 20181.2 crore 
November 2018 1.07 crore 
December 2018 1.46 crore 
January 201980 lakh