The Kolkata High Court had given directions to resume the 100-day work scheme in the state. The Centre had approached the Supreme Court against that directive. But on Monday, the Supreme Court upheld the High Court's directive in this case. The Centre's appeal was dismissed. MGNREGA's 100-day work scheme must be started quickly, the Supreme Court has directed.
Along with this, pending dues have to be cleared immediately; this directive has also been given. As a result, legal circles think that there are no more obstacles to resume the 100-day work scheme in the state.
The 100-day work scheme had been suspended in Bengal for nearly the past three years. The state had accused the Centre of not providing funds for this project. The matter had reached to the hands of the Kolkata High Court. The Centre alleged that a lot of money had been embezzled in the 100-day project. The state had been able to recover only a small amount of money from this. After this, a committee appointed by the Kolkata High Court inspected several districts of the state and found some substance to the allegations. In that case, the Kolkata High Court had stated that while steps could be taken to prevent corruption, the 100-day work scheme could not be kept completely suspended. Not only that, the High Court had directed the launch of the project on August 1.
The Centre had gone to the Supreme Court challenging that directive. Today, the case came up before the bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta. There, the Centre's appeal was dismissed. As a result, all directives of the High Court remained upheld.
After this Supreme Court directive, leaders of the state's ruling party became vocal again, raising allegations of central deprivation. State Minister Firhad Hakim said today, "The Centre is depriving Bengal. Even while standing amidst adversity, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has kept all the state government's projects alive."
Derek O'Brien has also raised his voice against the Centre after this verdict. He shared a post on his X handle, bringing allegations of financial deprivation against the Centre, "Supreme Court dismisses Centre’s bid to block MGNREGA in Bengal. After 3 years of frozen funds affecting 2.5+ crore rural workers, the Court rules welfare schemes cannot be ‘put to cold storage for eternity’. Major victory for rural poor, rebuke to administrative overreach."
Supreme Court dismisses Centre's bid to block MGNREGA in Bengal. After 3 years of frozen funds affecting 2.5+ crore rural workers, the Court rules welfare schemes cannot be 'put to cold storage for eternity'. Major victory for rural poor, rebuke to administrative overreach
