New Delhi, June 10: The central government has taken a significant step to enhance rural development, job creation, and worker safety in India. Union Minister for Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, announced on Tuesday that an interim amount of ₹95,692.31 crore has been released to states and union territories.
Previously, ₹30,000 crore had already been allocated under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), bringing the total allocation to over ₹1.25 lakh crore.
During a video conference with state rural development ministers regarding the implementation of the ‘Developed India-Employment and Livelihood Mission (Rural),’ Chouhan stated that this funding will reach approximately 2.8 lakh gram panchayats, providing each panchayat with millions of rupees for development activities.
He emphasized that under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the central government has initiated comprehensive financial and policy measures for rural employment, worker welfare, and overall village development. The new system, set to be implemented from July 1, will focus on being entirely worker-centric and barrier-free.
Chouhan urged states to pre-approve development projects to ensure swift implementation of plans starting July 1. He also highlighted that the government aims not only to provide funds but also to ensure timely wage payments, protection of workers’ rights, and continuity in development activities.
Discussing digital and administrative preparations, Chouhan noted that several states have made significant progress in areas such as Direct Benefit Transfer, e-KYC, face authentication, and SMS-based information systems. He mentioned that 26 states have already made budgetary provisions in line with the ‘Developed India-Rural India’ goal.
However, states like Jharkhand, Karnataka, Telangana, and Mizoram have been advised to expedite this process. Chouhan stated that he would personally write to the chief ministers of these states. He also praised Mizoram, Puducherry, and Andhra Pradesh for issuing notifications promptly.
During the meeting, the interim allocation for states was announced, with Uttar Pradesh receiving the highest amount of ₹12,221.48 crore, followed by West Bengal with ₹8,508 crore, Tamil Nadu with ₹7,957.57 crore, Andhra Pradesh with ₹7,707.21 crore, and Rajasthan with ₹7,581.87 crore. Other states like Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra received allocations ranging from ₹4,420.32 crore to ₹6,715.83 crore.
Union territories such as Jammu and Kashmir were allocated ₹1,151.02 crore, Puducherry ₹40.56 crore, and Ladakh ₹85.98 crore, among others, based on their needs. Additionally, ₹1,850.62 crore has been earmarked separately for central administration and social audit.
Chouhan clarified that the selection of development projects will be based on suggestions from gram panchayats and gram sabhas, and he instructed that there should be no reduction or hindrance in job creation and wage payments under MGNREGA by July 1.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
