Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday criticised West Bengal government for significant lapses in the implementation of key rural welfare schemes, stating that the Central Government has allocated over Rs 1.10 lakh crore to the state since the 2014-15 financial year through various rural development programmes.
In a statement, Chouhan said the central government remains fully committed to the welfare of West Bengal’s villages, poor, and workers, and has consistently extended financial support through flagship schemes. He noted that under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), Rs 16,505 crore was allocated to the state, while Rs 25,798 crore was released under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G).
Other major allocations included Rs 54,465 crore under MGNREGA (2014–2022), Rs 3,881 crore through the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), Rs 8,389 crore under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), and Rs 274 crore for skill development initiatives.
“These figures reflect the central government’s unwavering efforts to improve housing, employment, roads, and livelihoods for the poor in West Bengal,” Union Minister said.
However, he alleged large-scale irregularities in the implementation of MGNREGA by the West Bengal government. Chouhan said central teams conducted investigations across 19 districts between 2019 and 2022 and found evidence of fake work entries, rule violations, and misappropriation of funds. Citing these findings, he stated that Ministry of Rural Development was compelled to stop releasing funds under Section 27 of the MGNREGA Act.
The minister also raised concerns over the PMAY-G scheme, alleging that the state government removed eligible beneficiaries, selected ineligible families, and renamed the scheme in violation of central guidelines. These complaints, he added, were confirmed by both national and central monitoring teams.
Chouhan further stated that despite repeated requests, the West Bengal government has failed to ensure transparency or take corrective measures. “The state has failed in trust, responsibility, and transparency,” he said, adding that the central government remains firmly committed to the development and welfare of the people of West Bengal.
