After setback in SC, Rural Ministry tells PMO it may consider MGNREGS resumption in WB: Report
New Delhi: Days after a setback in the Supreme Court, the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) has reportedly informed the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) that it may consider resuming the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in West Bengal under “special conditions”.
Implementation of the scheme in the state has remained suspended for over three years. The Trinamool Congress (TMC)-led West Bengal government has been repeatedly urging the Centre to release funds and restart the rural employment programme.
According to a report by The Indian Express on Wednesday, the Ministry informed the PMO last week that it may “consider” resumption of MGNREGS in West Bengal under specific conditions. The PMO had sought a report from the Ministry on the issue.
On October 27, the Supreme Court dismissed the Centre’s Special Leave Petition (SLP) challenging a June 18 order of the Calcutta High Court, which had directed the implementation of the MGNREGS in West Bengal prospectively from August 1, 2025. The High Court had left it to the Centre to impose “special conditions” for implementation of the scheme in the state.
The Rural Development Ministry decided to challenge the High Court order before the Supreme Court and filed the SLP on July 31, a day before the order for implementation was to come into effect. That petition was dismissed on October 27.
The Centre had earlier invoked Section 27 of the MGNREGA, 2005, to suspend fund releases to West Bengal on March 9, 2022, citing “non-compliance with directives of the Central Government.” Since then, no MGNREGS-related work has been undertaken in the state, added the report.
Before the scheme’s suspension, between 2014–15 and 2021–22, an estimated 51 lakh to 80 lakh families in West Bengal availed employment under the flagship scheme annually.
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Businessman lured by FB friend, attacked for extortion in K'taka; 4 held
Madikeri (Karnataka) (PTI): Four people were arrested for allegedly assaulting, illegally confining and attempting to extort money from a 39-year-old businessman who was lured through a honeytrap set up on social media, police said on Monday.
The accused have been identified as Rachana, Malati, Darshan and Ravi.
Police said efforts are underway to nab the remaining suspects involved in the incident, which occurred on December 12 in Madikeri, the district headquarters of Kodagu.
According to the complaint, the victim, a resident of Maddur taluk in Mandya district, was befriended by a woman identified as Rachana through Facebook, who later sought financial assistance and received Rs 5,000 from him via PhonePe on November 28.
When he asked her to return the money, the woman allegedly asked him to travel to Mysuru or Kushalnagar, promising to meet him.
The police said the woman later called the victim to Madikeri on December 12 and took him to a house near the market area, where they spent some time and consumed alcohol in the evening.
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Later that night, citing an emergency, the woman left the house. After her departure, three men allegedly broke into the house and attacked the victim, assaulting him with a stick and the handle of a sword, causing injuries to his face, mouth, chest and leg, the FIR stated.
The complainant alleged that he was forcibly confined, stripped and a nude video of him was recorded. The accused also allegedly threatened him with a toy gun, demanding Rs 50 lakh and warning that the video would be uploaded on social media if the money was not paid.
Police said the victim was held captive and somehow managed to escape in the early hours of December 13. However, after he escaped, the accused allegedly attempted to kidnap him in an autorickshaw, an incident that was captured on CCTV cameras.
Based on his complaint at the Madikeri Town police station, a case was registered under Sections 310(2) (dacoity), 127(2) (wrongful confinement), 118(1) (voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means) and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, a senior police officer said.
“Four accused, including two women, have been arrested. Efforts are on to nab two more absconding accused. Further investigation is on,” he added.
