West Bengal Restarts Rural Jobs Scheme in 21 Districts as 2 Face Irregularity Probes
Updated
Updated · The New Indian Express · May 25
West Bengal Restarts Rural Jobs Scheme in 21 Districts as 2 Face Irregularity Probes
1 articles · Updated · The New Indian Express · May 25
West Bengal will restart its rural employment scheme in all districts except Murshidabad and South 24 Parganas, after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari ordered departments to resume work quickly in eligible areas.
The two excluded districts remain under investigation over alleged implementation irregularities and recorded the highest number of corruption complaints linked to the previous government, officials said.
The programme is being resumed under the VB-G RAM G Act, which is set to replace MGNREGA nationwide from July 1 across all states and Union Territories.
The move follows the Centre's earlier suspension of funds to West Bengal and court battles over unpaid wages since December 2021; officials said the restart should aid thousands of rural households before the monsoon.
Will the new rural job act's budget caps undermine its promise of more work days for India's poorest citizens?
Amid national protests, is the new rural job act a genuine reform or a dilution of workers' fundamental rights?
With two districts excluded for corruption, can West Bengal's revived job scheme truly escape its controversial past?