Priyank Kharge Seeks Release of Pending NREGS Funds to Karnataka
Kharge has written a letter to Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Kalaburagi: Karnataka's Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge has written to Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, seeking the immediate release of pending funds under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) to the state.
In the letter, Kharge, who is also the Kalaburagi District In-charge Minister, expressed serious concern over delays in releasing wage, material, and administrative components of the scheme for the financial year 2025-26.
He said Karnataka had complied with all procedural requirements, including submission of Utilization Certificates and necessary documentation to the Ministry of Rural Development and added that non-disbursal of funds has created a severe financial and administrative bottleneck for the state.
“Salaries for field-level staff and functionaries have remained unpaid since December 2024, leading to significant financial hardship for personnel. This delay is severely affecting the routine operations, supervision, and on-ground implementation of the scheme. Field functionaries have been submitting multiple requests to the Headquarters for the immediate release of their pending salaries to cover essential expenses such as their children's school admission fees, rent, and loan EMIs etc,” he said.
Kharge also highlighted issues arising from technical transitions mandated by the Centre, such as the migration to the Single Nodal Agency (SNA) system and integration with platforms like SPARSH and NREGASoft. He said that though these changes aimed at streamlining the system, they have instead led to operational delays in fund disbursement.
According to the minister, material bills amounting to Rs 787.2 crore are currently pending, while wage liabilities have piled up to around Rs 600 crore, despite being raised based on actual work progress.
Officials from the Karnataka Rural Development Commissionerate have followed up repeatedly through letters, calls, and visits to the Ministry, besides flagging the issue in virtual meetings.
"Timely disbursement is essential not just for the livelihood security of lakhs of rural workers, but also to uphold the credibility and effectiveness of this national programme," Kharge wrote, urging the Centre’s immediate intervention.