Representatives of seven workers unions on Saturday (January 11, 2025) held protests outside the office of West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) demanding resumption of 100 days work under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Act (MGNREGA) which has been suspended for over three years
The protest was organised by seven workers unions whose 500 activists laid siege outside the party office for quite some time and met senior BJP leader and party’s chief spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Samik Bhattacharya. Funds under MGNREGA have been suspended since December 2021 on allegations of corruption in the implementation of the scheme. The stoppage of funds has affected families of 75 lakh job card workers.
A few days ago Paschim Banga Khet Majoor Samity (PBKMS), a union of agricultural workers had blamed the politics of the West Bengal BJP behind the suspension of the MGNREGA funds for the past three years. The delegation of union representatives that met the BJP leader comprised Anuradha Talwar, Subha Protim Roy Chowdhury and Uttam Gayen among others.
A press statement by the unions stated that BJP MP Samik Bhattacharya assured them that being a Rajya Sabha MP, he shall raise all these issues in the upcoming budget session and undertake necessary communications with the relevant Ministry.
“The Central Government bears the bounden duty to take immediate steps to address the worsening crisis faced by rural workers in West Bengal, but still out of some petty political vendetta against the State government led by the Trinamool Congress, the Central Government led by the BJP has thwarted funds under MGNREGA, thereby depriving the rural workers,” the press statement by the unions said.
The unions also submitted a deputation addressed to State BJP president Sukanata Majumdar stating that Section 27 of The MGNREGA Act empowers the Central Government to stop funds only for a ‘reasonable period’.
“However, the continued suspension for nearly three years far exceeds any reasonable timeframe and raises serious questions about the government’s commitment to upholding the law. Under the same Section 27, the Central Government is also supposed to ‘institute appropriate remedial measures’. However, so far, we have not seen any such measures being taken,” the letter stated.
The organisations urged the West Bengal BJP leadership to take necessary steps to ensure that the Central Government immediately lift the order issued under Section 27 of the MGNREGA Act, 2005, and resume the disbursement of funds to West Bengal.
Anuradha Talwar of PBKMS, said that while the unions will continue to not only step up pressure on the BJP but will also demand that the West Bengal government enact a law on the Karmashree project announced by the West Bengal government. The State government has announced that it will give jobs for about 50 days to MGNREGA workers in the State.
The protests on Saturday were organised by members of Paschim Banga, Khet Majoor Samity, Shramajeevi Mahila Samity, Paschimbanga Chhatra Yuva, Sangrami Mancha, Bhukha Manusher Adhikar Abhijan, SEWA Bangla, Muktakantha Mahila Samity and Paschim Banga Cha Majoor Samity.
Published – January 12, 2025 11:50 am IST