Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has accused the Centre of not paying over ₹17,144 crore in MGNREGA dues to states. He slammed the government for replacing the scheme with a new one that allegedly burdens states financially and harms workers.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday alleged that the Centre has not released pending dues under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) to several states. He claimed that thousands of crores in wage payments remain unpaid even as the government prepares to roll out the VB-G RAM G scheme from July 1.
Kharge questions Centre over unpaid dues
In a post on X, Kharge wrote, “@narendramodi ji, You’ve ended MGNREGA, stripping rural India of the ‘right to work,’ but isn’t it true that — You haven’t paid the states their MGNREGA dues. According to the response presented in the Lok Sabha, ₹17,144.13 crore was outstanding to 34 states and UTs. (As of March 2026) This includes ₹7,846.25 crore in wage liability, meaning workers haven’t received their rightful payment yet. Why? From July 1, you’ve imposed a new scheme (VB-G RAM G) on the states, but the central government still hasn’t released the pending MGNREGA payments! Karnataka has ₹700 crore outstanding, Jharkhand ₹900 crore, and states like Telangana and Tamil Nadu haven’t received their due funds.”
New funding pattern and ‘Blackout’ provision criticised
“In the MGNREGA introduced by Congress, the central government used to bear 100% of the wage costs itself, but now the new scheme has dumped 40% of the total expenditure burden on the states. When BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh and Bihar, along with Jharkhand, are demanding a review of the funding pattern citing heavy financial strain, why is the central government sticking to its guns? (According to RTI) When multiple states have strongly opposed the ‘Blackout’ provision that halts work for 60 days during the most critical farming season, why is the central government forcing this anti-labor system on farmers and rural workers?” the post read.
Concerns over financial strain and wage hikes
Kharge accused the Centre of weakening rural employment by replacing the MGNREGA, alleging that the move would increase the financial burden on states and adversely affect workers, particularly amid concerns over below-normal rainfall and reduced kharif sowing. “To fulfill the promise of 125 days of employment, Madhya Pradesh faces an additional burden of ₹20,037 crore and Bihar ₹15,939 crore– is the central government trying to push states into financial crisis just to implement its scheme? At least 5 states have pleaded for wage hikes. The Congress party has been demanding ₹400 daily wages from day one. When Bihar is seeking to raise wages from ₹255 to ₹413 and Jammu-Kashmir from ₹272 to ₹311, why is the central government hesitating to give workers a dignified wage? This June saw 42% less rainfall. Kharif sowing is down 22.7%. Over 300 districts could be gripped by drought, deepening the crisis of livelihood in rural India. In this situation, ending MGNREGA– isn’t it an attack on workers, SCs, STs, OBCs, and the poor? Modi ji, answer this,” the post further read.
About the new rural employment act
The Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act was passed in the Winter Session of Parliament in 2025 and replaces the 100-day employment guarantee with a 125-day guarantee. However, the Opposition has criticised the legislation for removing Mahatma Gandhi’s name from the scheme and altering the 60:40 share of funds between the Centre and states.
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