Lok Sabha Question No. 1674 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-10
Subject: Disabled People Registered under MGNREGS
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Smt. June Maliah

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1674 ANSWERED ON 10/02/2026

## DISABLED PEOPLE REGISTERED UNDER MGNREGS

1674. Smt. June Maliah:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENTbe pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that West Bengal had the highest number of disabled  people  registeredunder  Mahatma  Gandhi  National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), if so,thedetails thereof;
- (b) whether it is a fact that none of the disabled people were able to avail work underMGNREGS;
- (c) whether it is a fact that the Supreme Court and Calcutta High Court had orderedresumption of MGNREGS in West Bengal;
- (d) the date by which Union Government with clear all dues to the state of West Bengal underMGNREGS/VB-G RAM G; and
- (e) the total number of workers under MGNREGS/VB-G RAM G who could not connect toAadhaar Based Payment System?

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## ANSWER (SHRI KAMLESH PASWAN)

(a) to (d):    Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme  (Mahatma  Gandhi  NREGS)  is  a  demand  driven  wage employment  Scheme.  It  provides  livelihood  security,  i.e.  fall  back options  for  livelihood  for  the  rural  households,  when  no  better employment opportunity is available. The responsibility for implementation of the Scheme is vested with the Governments of the  concerned  States/UTs.  Details  of  disabled  persons  registered and  number  of  persons  who  availed  employment  in  West  Bengal under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS during the financial year 2021-22 is given below :

| Financial Year   |   Number of Persons Registered |   Number of persons who availed employment |
|------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
| 2021-22          |                         409149 |                                      71196 |

As per NREGASoft

Here it is stated that the release of funds to the State of West Bengal  under  the  Mahatma  Gandhi  National  Rural  Employment Guarantee  Scheme  (Mahatma  Gandhi  NREGS)  was  stopped  with effect from 09.03.2022 by invoking the provisions of Section 27 of the  Mahatma  Gandhi  National  Rural  Employment  Guarantee  Act, 2005, owing to continued non-compliance with the directives of the Central Government by the State.

However, in compliance with the order of the Hon'ble Calcutta High  Court  dated  18.06.2025,  this  Department  has  issued  orders dated  06.12.2025  for  the  resumption  of  the  implementation  of  the Mahatma  Gandhi  NREGS  in  the  State  of  West  Bengal,  which  is subject to mandatory compliance with the special conditions, so as to facilitate the effective and lawful implementation of the Scheme in the State. Accordingly, State Government has been requested to submit  the  Labour  Budget  proposal  for  the  current  Financial  Year 2025-26 for consideration  of  the  Empowered  Committee, Mahatma

Gandhi NREGS, which is still awaited.

As per NREGASoft, the total pending liability pertaining to the State of West Bengal (as on 08.03.2022) stands at ₹3082.52 crore, comprising  ₹1457.22  crore  under  the  wage  component,  ₹1607.68 crore  under  the  Material  component,  and  ₹17.62  crore  under  the is

Administrative  component.  The  admissibility  of  this  liability subject to verification by the Central Government.

- (e):  To ensure timely payment of wages to the beneficiaries under Mahatma  Gandhi  National  Rural  Employment  Guarantee  Scheme (Mahatma Gandhi NREGS) and to address the issues arising due to frequent changes in bank account numbers of the beneficiaries and subsequent  non-updation,  it  was  decided  to implement  Aadhar Payment  Bridge  System  (APBS).  This  has  been  made  mandatory with effect from 1 st  January 2024.

APBS helps in improving the transparency and accountability of Wage distribution under the scheme and ensure faster crediting of  wages  in  the  account  of  beneficiaries.  Aadhar  Authentication also reduces leakage and corruption and ensures that only legitimate  beneficiaries  with  verified  identities  receive  wages. In case  of  failure  in  payment  through  APBS,  an  alternative  route  to make payment is available through account-based payment that is National Automated Clearing House. As of now out of   total of 12.17 crore  active  workers  in  the  country  Aadhaar  seeding   of  99.67% have  already  been  completed  and  APBS  conversion  has  been completed  for  98.35%  workers. State/UTs  are  continuously  being monitored by the Central Government for achieving 100% Aadhaar Seeding and APBS conversion in NREGASoft.

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