Rural development ministry seeks Rs 17,000 crore more for MGNREGS

Additional funds required as work given under the scheme crosses half of approved budget in 5 months

The rural development ministry has reportedly sought an additional allocation of Rs 17,000 crore for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Emploment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS), over and above the budgeted Rs 48,000 crore for 2017-18, as the work provided under the scheme has exceeded 54 per cent of the approved budget.
 
The requirement for the budget had arisen due to an increase in demand for work for a combination of factors, including the government’s move to demonetise high-value currency and the general drought in some areas of the country, activists and others said.
 
The demand, if met, would take