West Bengal has become the best performing State both in terms of allotting jobs and utilising funds under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
According to statistics recently provided in Rajya Sabha by the Minister of State for Rural Development Ram Kripal Yadav, West Bengal generated more than 28.21 crore work days under the scheme so far in 2017-18 and spent more than ₹7,335.31 crore for it. The Minister was replying to a question from Trinamool Congress MP Manas Ranjan Bhunia. He also said that Tamil Nadu occupied the second spot with 22.17 crore work days and spent ₹5,981.75 crore. Andhra Pradesh was third with 18.16 crore work days, and funds worth ₹5054.17 crore.
Speaking to The Hindu , Mr. Bhunia pointed out that the performance of BJP-ruled States such as Goa, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh was “not impressive.” Goa is ranked at the bottom of the list with 94,000 work days and spent funds worth ₹2.47 crore. Gujarat generated 2.93 crore work days and spent funds worth ₹793.50 crore, while Uttar Pradesh generated 15.6 crore work days and utilised funds worth ₹3701.54 crore.
