Author: Bihar Say | Amrita |

Big Win for Bihar’s 12 Lakh+ Workers: Wages Worth ₹2000 Crore Likely This Week! 💥

After a long wait of over three and a half months, more than 12 lakh workers in Bihar can finally hope to receive their pending MGNREGA wages—worth a staggering ₹2,000 crore—as early as this week.

And here’s the reason why things are moving fast now: Union Minister of Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, is visiting Patna on April 12, and a key departmental review is scheduled. The Bihar government expects that the funds will be released before this meeting, bringing much-needed relief to the workers and their families.

What’s the Wage Issue All About?

Since December 27, 2024, thousands of laborers in Bihar haven’t been paid for their hard work under the MGNREGA scheme. This delay affected families across rural Bihar who rely on daily wages to survive. Despite repeated appeals by the Bihar Rural Development Department, the payment was stuck.

Now, there’s hope. The Central Government has assured that the payment will be processed within the next 2-3 days.

🗣️ Bihar’s Rural Development Minister Shravan Kumar confirmed, “We have constantly pursued this with the Centre, and they have assured us that the funds will be released very soon.”

Why This Matters to Every Worker

Under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), each registered worker is entitled to 100 days of paid work in a year. But here’s the twist—the Centre only approved 17 crore person-days for Bihar in FY 2024-25, while the state provided 25 crore person-days of work to laborers.

This mismatch resulted in the wage backlog.

Despite these constraints, Bihar pushed ahead, generating work opportunities. Over ₹4,100 crore has already been paid in wages till December 2024. This additional ₹2,000 crore is the final piece workers have been waiting for.

Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s Visit: A Turning Point

As Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan arrives in Patna on April 12, his presence is expected to act as a catalyst. He will review the department’s functioning and pending issues. The Bihar government is confident that funds will hit state accounts before this high-level review.

If that happens, lakhs of laborers across the state could start receiving payments within days.

Bihar’s Rural Workforce Deserves Better

This delay has highlighted the urgent need for timely MGNREGA payments, especially in rural states like Bihar where such wages are a lifeline. Families have waited months, cutting down expenses and borrowing money to survive.

With the Centre now stepping in, and political focus sharpening, this week may finally bring a much-awaited economic relief.

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