New Delhi, June 10:
The Centre on Tuesday announced an interim allocation of Rs 95,692 crore under the newly introduced VB-G RAM G scheme for a seamless transition, with Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan asserting that no state would face any reduction in funds.
Addressing a press conference after a meeting with the state rural development ministers, Chouhan said the interim allocation had been made as the draft rules of the new scheme were still being finalised and to ensure that rural employment and development activities continue uninterrupted after June 30.
“Without causing any inconvenience to workers, we are moving from the MGNREGA to the Viksit Bharat â?” Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Grameen) (VB-G RAM G). There will not be a gap of even a single day in the availability of work,” he said.According to the Rural Development Ministry, Uttar Pradesh has been allotted the highest interim allocation of Rs 9,721.48 crore, followed by West Bengal at Rs 8,508 crore, Tamil Nadu at Rs 7,585.49 crore, Rajasthan at Rs 7,581.87 crore, Andhra Pradesh at Rs 7,707.21 crore and Bihar at Rs 6,715.83 crore. The total allocation for states stands at Rs 92,550.17 crore, while Union territories have been allocated Rs 1,291.52 crore.
An additional Rs 1,850.62 crore has been earmarked for central administration and social audits, taking the total to Rs 95,692.31 crore.
Chouhan said that after adding the mandatory state contribution, the total annual outlay under the scheme would be around Rs 1.51 lakh crore.
Seeking to allay concerns raised by opposition parties and labour groups, the minister said no state’s allocation had been reduced and that the interim allocation had been worked out on the basis of expenditure under the MGNREGA scheme in the previous year.
He said 26 states have completed the procedural requirements necessary for implementing the new scheme, while four states — Jharkhand, Karnataka, Telangana and Mizoram –are yet to complete all formalities. he said.