‘Planned euthanasia’ of MGNREGA is being carried out by the government, according to Congress

By “inordinately delaying” the payment of social audits, the Centre is allegedly carrying out a “planned euthanasia” of MGNREGS. According to the Congress, this compromises the procedure the government uses to withhold money to the states.

The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) social audit units, according to a media article published by Congress national secretary Jairam Ramesh on X, were paralyzed in various states.

Ramesh said in his article that a crucial component of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act is the gram sabha’s social audits.

According to him, they are intended to uphold accountability and improve transparency—basically, to stifle corruption.

“In order to maintain its autonomy, the Center actively funds an independent social audit in each state. This financing has been significantly delayed lately, according to Ramesh.

“As a result, social audits aren’t completed on time, and the social audit process is compromised,” he added. “The Modi government then uses this as an excuse to withhold funds from the states, which in turn affects wage payments and other things.”

Ramesh said, “This is nothing more than a deliberate suicide of MGNREGA—by trapping the system in a chakravyuh.