‘Centre Paralysing Rural India’: MP Moves Adjournment Motion
Photo credit Twitter Ministry of Rural Development
Congress MP Manickam Tagore alleges unpaid wages, mounting debts, and halted development works as States wait for thousands of crores under MGNREGS; demands immediate release of funds and accountability.
By AMIT KUMAR
New Delhi, December 12, 2025 —Congress MP Manickam Tagore has submitted an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha, accusing the Central Government of triggering a “man-made rural crisis” by withholding thousands of crores owed to States under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).
In a detailed letter to the Lok Sabha Secretary-General, Tagore sought suspension of regular House business to discuss what he termed a “grave and urgent national crisis” affecting millions of rural workers, Panchayat institutions, and State governments across India.
Tagore’s motion alleges that the Centre has failed to release massive pending liabilities under both the wage and material components of MGNREGS — leaving lakhs of workers unpaid for months and pushing Panchayats, small vendors, SHGs, and suppliers into financial distress.
According to the letter, the repercussions are widespread:
- Non-payment of wages for months, leaving rural households without income
- Accumulation of material bills, plunging vendors and suppliers into debt
- Severe financial strain on Village Panchayats, stalling basic development works
- Audit objections and recovery proceedings initiated unfairly against State officials due to Centre-driven delays
- Disruption of MGNREGS’ core guarantee of 100 days of work
The MP cites Tamil Nadu as an acute example, claiming that over ₹2,000 crore remains pending despite repeated requests from the State government. Similar complaints, he writes, are emerging from several States.
The letter also highlights growing unrest, noting that MGNREGS workers, job card holders, and civil society groups have been staging protests at Jantar Mantar and in districts nationwide. These demonstrations, Tagore argues, reflect the “widespread frustration and economic distress buried under rural households.”
Calling the situation “unprecedented,” he says the Central Government’s inaction has “paralysed rural development activities, undermined Panchayati Raj institutions, and caused widespread hardship for lakhs of poor families who depend on MGNREGS wages for survival.”
Tagore urged the Speaker to allow an immediate discussion and demanded that the Centre:
- Release all pending funds to States without delay
- Restore administrative cost norms
- Stop punitive actions against State officials
- Ensure uninterrupted implementation of MGNREGS
The government has not yet issued an official response, but the motion is expected to intensify political confrontation in the ongoing session.
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