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'Rs 1.31 lakh crore spent on MGNREGS wages in 4 yrs'

New Delhi: It seems there is a windfall of funds for the implementation of national rural employment guarantee scheme as the rural job guarantee scheme has seen a record expenditure of Rs 1,31,020 crore in the last four years.

As per the latest report provided by the government, the expenditure on wages under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) has seen an increasing trend in the last four years.

"In the year 2015-16, the expenditure incurred on wages was Rs 30,902 crore which increased by Rs 9,844 crore making the total expenditure in the year 2016-17 to Rs 40,746 crore," said Minister of State for Rural Development Ram Kripal Yadav in reply to a question in Lok Sabha on Thursday.

"In the succeeding year of 2017-18, the expenditure on wages under the rural employment guarantee scheme rose to Rs 43,187 crore, which is Rs 2,441 crore more than the previous year's expenses incurred on the wages," the minister said in his reply.

As per the data, the expenses incurred on wages in the current fiscal are Rs 16,185 crore till July 30.

In reply to irregularities of funds in implementation of the job guarantee scheme, the minister said, "Give that the responsibility of implementation of MGNREGS is vested with the state governments/UTs, so all complaints received in the ministry are forwarded to the concerned states for taking appropriate action, including investigation, as per law."

Commenting on the issue, social activist Ashish Kumar Singh said, "It's good to know that expenditure on wages has increased, but what about non-payment of wages to MGNREGA workers. The Centre must take stern action against defaulting states to put a check on corruption in the rural job scheme."

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