Funding dispute: TMC claims no MGNERGA funds obtained; BJP accuses celebration of mismanagement | India Information

NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Social gathering (BJP) on Sunday responded to claims made by Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Derek O’Brien concerning the withholding of MGNREGA funds for West Bengal. O’Brien had accused the central authorities of failing to launch funds for the Mahatma Gandhi Nationwide Rural Employment Assure Act (MGNREGA) scheme, however the BJP argued that the halt is because of monetary mismanagement by the TMC-led state authorities.
The BJP accused the TMC of trying to control the difficulty for political acquire. Based on the BJP, the suspension of MGNREGA funds, which started on March 9, 2022, isn’t politically motivated however is a response to monetary irregularities uncovered throughout audits by the central authorities. These audits, performed between 2019 and 2021, discovered substantial misappropriation of funds by the TMC authorities, amounting to Rs 537.05 lakh, which prompted the central authorities to suggest restoration.
“TMC’s ordinary engagement in duplicity and capriciousness is as soon as once more laid naked by way of the mendacious tweet by Derek O’Brien. In his try to hoodwink the harmless voters of Bengal, he blamed the Central Govt for failing to launch funds beneath MGNREGA,” BJP mentioned in a put up on X.

The BJP mentioned that the TMC’s responses, together with an Motion Taken Report submitted in June 2019, have been insufficient. The state’s continued non-compliance led to the invocation of Part 27 of the MGNREGA Act, justifying the fund stoppage. As of July 25, 2024, the central authorities reiterated its request for updates on restoration and disciplinary actions, noting that solely Rs 161.64 lakh of the misappropriated funds have been recovered.
“It’s excessive time for TMC to lastly settle for their involvement within the debacle and take motion towards the Chief of the Loot – Mamata Banerjee!” the saffron celebration mentioned.
‘Bengal given zero MGNREGA funds’
O’Brien’s claimed the Modi authorities has admitted in Parliament that West Bengal obtained “zero” funds beneath MGNREGA. He cited a reply from the Union Minister of State for Rural Growth, Kamlesh Paswan, which confirmed zero households accomplished 100 days of employment in 2023-24. Nonetheless, the information additionally indicated that 1,618 households accomplished the work in 2022-23, and 4,71,136 in 2021-22, earlier than the funding halt.
“Lastly! Modi Govt admits inside Parliament that BENGAL’S BEEN GIVEN ZERO for MNREGA funds,” the TMC MP mentioned in his put up on X.

‘Monetary meltdown within the state,’ says West Bengal guv
The BJP’s accusations got here on a day when the West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose Governor mentioned there have been loopholes within the monetary administration of West Bengal. Bose mentioned that there’s a monetary meltdown in West Bengal, and claimed that funds which might be meant for poverty alleviation are getting used for different functions within the state.
“That is an opinion which stems straight from the evaluation given by competent authorities just like the Reserve Financial institution of India and the Comptroller and Auditor Normal…I’m sorry to say that there’s a monetary meltdown in West Bengal…Funds are diverted, funds that are meant for the amelioration of poverty are used for different functions,” Bose advised information company ANI.
The West Bengal Governor added that he has requested for a white paper from the state authorities.
“It’s necessary for the CM to supply such data to the Governor…I’ll await it. If it comes nicely and good. If it would not come, there are methods I get for that,” Bose advised ANI.