Union Govt Resumes MGNREGS Work in West Bengal With 'Special Conditions'; Mamata Calls it 'Disrespectful'
New Delhi: More than three years after it was stopped, the Union government has ordered resumption of ‘100 days of work’ under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Scheme (MGNREGS) with “immediate effect” although it has imposed “special conditions and regulatory measures”.
The conditions include prohibition of any work with an estimated cost above Rs 20 lakh, compulsory 100% e-KYC of all workers and compulsory pre-estimation field visits for all works before they are taken up, Business Standard reported.
“Department of Rural Development hereby resumes the prospective implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA in the State of West Bengal with immediate effect. However, such resumption is subject to mandatory adherence to the special conditions and regulatory measures, as directed by the High Court, for ensuring transparency and integrity in the implementation,” the order read.
The same was conveyed to the West Bengal government.
The Union government has also imposed a special condition for the labour budget, which will be approved quarterly for West Bengal instead of annually. The state government has been asked to submit the same for FY26 within 30 days of receiving the order.
Notably, the announcement comes months ahead of Assembly elections in the state.
On June 18, 2025, Calcutta high court directed the Union government to resume the implementation of the 100 days of wage employment under the scheme in West Bengal, effective from August 1. The employment scheme is mandated under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Act, or MGNREGA.
Meanwhile, The Hindu reported that West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has rejected the conditions to resume the MGNREGS work.
“This is an order from the Centre. I am tearing it up. I think it is an insult, disrespectful,” Banerjee reportedly said, addressing a public meeting in the State’s Cooch Behar district.
“Day before yesterday, we received a letter stating that starting December 6, we must submit a quarterly labour budget. They have imposed a restrictive condition. But where is the time to show it? This is December, and the election is due early next year. Then they said training has to be provided,” she said, calling the order disrespectful.
“We don’t want your mercy,” she added, as per the report.
The 100-day employment under MGNREGS had been one of the main sources of livelihood for poor and marginalised communities in the state, especially in districts like Bankura, Purulia, Jhargram and Paschim Medidipur, which fall under the Jangalmahal region.
However, due to its disruption and lack of jobs, the state has witnessed a huge migration of rural workers over the past few years.
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