Rajasthan CM Gehlot red flags cuts in Ministry of Agriculture and MGNREGA budgets

JAIPUR: The Union Budget 2023-24 has made a big cut in the allocation to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme, which is considered to be the livelihood lifeline for the poorest of the poor.

At the same time, the Budget has also reduced by a third the funds for the scholarship scheme for children belonging to the minority communities. These issues, as well as a national status not being accorded to the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP), are being highlighted by the Congress Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot. The budgets of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Jal Jeevan Mission and Bharat Swachh Mission, however, have been increased as compared to last year. With this increase, Rajasthan will get more funds.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has reduced the budget of MGNREGA by about Rs 30,000 crore as compared to the last time. Due to this reduction, the share of Rajasthan is also expected to come down. If this happens, there will be a direct impact on about 1.45 crore rural labourers of Rajasthan associated with this scheme.

In the last budget of the Central government, the size of this scheme was Rs 73,000 crore. Later, seeing the need, the revised estimate was increased by the Centre to Rs 89,400 crore. This time the size has been reduced to only Rs 60,000 crore.

For MGNREGA, the states get 75 per cent of the funds from the Centre. Last year, keeping in view the budget provisions of the Centre, the state government had made a provision of Rs 3906 crore in its own budget, estimating the share to be received from the Centre at Rs 2970 crore.

Reacting to the budget announcement, Chief Minister Gehlot termed it as a disappointment for his state. He said the MGNREGA cut proves the Budget is against the poor, especially the landless farmers. (IANS)