NREGA workers demand resumption of work in West Bengal through nationwide campaign

By A Representative
New Delhi: Over 4,700 NREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005) workers from across India have sent letters to Prime Minister Modi, demanding the immediate resumption of NREGA work in West Bengal. This action follows the central government's freeze on NREGA funds to West Bengal in December 2021, which has halted all NREGA work and wage payments in the state.
Organized by the NREGA Sangharsh Morcha, the campaign included a postcard initiative where workers not only wrote to the Prime Minister but also contributed one rupee each towards the West Bengal NREGA budget. The postcards conveyed a direct message: "If the central government cannot release the NREGA budget for West Bengal, we, the workers of India, will raise the funds ourselves. We demand the immediate resumption of NREGA work in West Bengal."
On August 5, 2024, representatives from various workers' organizations met with Rural Development Secretary Shailesh Kumar, urging the immediate release of funds and the resumption of NREGA work in West Bengal.1 They expressed concern over the lack of a credible investigation into alleged irregularities and the absence of accountability, despite the fund freeze lasting over two and a half years.
The workers' delegation also met with political figures, including MPs Amra Ram, Dr. V. Sivadasan, Raju Bista, Advocate Bikash Bhattacharya, Manish Tamang, Shashikant Senthil, and Prakash Chik Baraik, requesting them to raise the issue in Parliament. The impact of the fund freeze on millions of workers and their families in West Bengal has been severe, leading to forced migration, widespread hunger and malnutrition, increased suicides, and further impoverishment of poor families.
Despite repeated attempts, workers' representatives have been unable to meet with the Union Minister of Rural Development. The lack of response from the government has increased frustration among workers.
In response to a petition filed by Paschim Banga Khet Mazdoor Samiti (W.P.A. (P) 237 of 2023), the Calcutta High Court in April 2024 formed a four-member committee to verify the authenticity of previously completed NREGA works in West Bengal. While verification is important, workers argue that it should not come at the expense of depriving millions of their right to work.
With over 3,500 applications for NREGA work received in West Bengal in September 2024, the need for resumption is evident.3 However, due to the central government's refusal to release funds, these demands are being met through the state government's employment scheme, 'Karmashree'. On September 24, 2024, approximately 100 NREGA workers, led by Paschim Banga Khet Mazdoor Samiti, gathered for a 'gherao' (encirclement) program at the BJP state headquarters in Kolkata. Although no party officials met with the workers, the party office assured them that their issues would be raised at the BJP state committee meeting on September 26.
The Kolkata demonstration is part of broader actions across the country. On Sunday, September 28, 2024, hundreds of NREGA workers from Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha are gathering in Ranchi for a mass protest.4 Workers will assemble at Raj Bhavan in Ranchi at 11 am to demand that the Modi government withdraw its anti-worker and anti-poor policies and properly implement NREGA.

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