Modi govt owes MGNREGA wages to 18 states, UTs: Congress

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday claimed that the Modi government still owes Rs 6,366 crore in MGNREGA wages to 18 states and union territories in the country even after a one third cut in its budget. He also lauded the flagship rural employment guarantee programme MGNREGA introduced by the Congress on this day in 2005. "On this day in 2005, our Congress-UPA Government enacted MGNREGA to ensure 'Right to Work' to crores of people," he said. "On this day in 2005, our Congress-UPA Government enacted MGNREGA to ensure 'Right to Work' to crores of people," he said."Even though Modi Government has cut MGNREGA's budget by 33%, this year and it owes Rs 6,366 crore in MGNREGA wages to 18 States and Union Territories, yet this flagship programme started by the Congress party still supports 14.42 crore active workers, more than half of them are women," Kharge said on X.

On this day in 2005, our Congress-UPA Govt enacted MGNREGA to ensure ‘Right to Work’ to crores of people.

Even though Modi Govt has cut MGNREGA’s budget by 33%, this year and it owes ₹6,366 crore in MGNREGA wages to 18 States and Union Territories, yet this flagship programme… pic.twitter.com/65Aqd3D9Rs

— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) August 23, 2023

Providing livelihood security to millions ever since, MGNREGA made up for up to 80 percent income loss during pandemic and played a positive role in helping people sustain their livelihood in difficult times," Kharge said.