Naveen urges Modi to enhance labour budget of Odisha under MGNREGS

Bhubaneswar, Nov 1: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to enhance labour budget of Odisha under MGNREGS to 25 crore person days for the year 2021-22. Naveen today wrote a letter to the PM in this regard. Naveen in the letter expressed his gratitude to the PM for taking robust measures for the economic revival of rural areas in the post-pandemic period. “ I would like to draw your kind attention that, Rs.1088.72 Crore liabilities are pending (Rs.377.91 Crore as wage component and Rs.710.81 Crore as material component) under MGNREGS for Odisha.  Timely payment of wages to the poor jobseekers is the fundamental guarantee under the MGNREG Act. Similarly, timely release of payment for material is critical for creation of tangible and durable assets under MGNREGS. The Ministry of Rural Development may be advised suitably for timely release of funds for wage and material payment under MGNREGS,” read the letter. Naveen further wrote that significant number of returnee migrants have stayed back due to reduced level of economic activities during the Covid pandemic. “This has led to demand for wage employment under MGNREGS in villages. Therefore, the labour budget of Odisha under MGNREGS may be enhanced to 25 Crore person days for the year 2021-22,” added the letter.