AIKS backs WB govt's opposition to direct MNREGA payment

AIKS, the peasants wing of CPI-M today backed the West Bengal government's opposition to the proposed move by the Centre on direct payment of wages to MNREGA beneficiaries, saying cooperative federalism must be protected and followed.
The Centre should put into place a proper vigilance mechanism in the 100 days work scheme as corruption cases regrading payment under MNREGA has been reported in the state, state All-India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) leader Amal Haldar told reporters here.
"In principle, we oppose the Centre's move to pay wage directly to the beneficiaries by bypassing the state. Cooperative federalism should be protected and followed," he said.

"But at the same time, a vigilance mechanism should also be put in by the central government to check corruption that is happening in this scheme. Lot of corruption cases have been reported," Haldar said.
The Trinamool Congress government had recently charged the BJP government at the Centre of "bulldozing the federal structure" by trying to bypass the state government.
Slamming the move to transfer wages directly to beneficiaries under the 100 days work scheme, it had described it as an "infringement" on the country's federal structure.
The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA), a flagship scheme introduced under the previous Congress-led UPA government at the Centre, is a demand-driven wage employment programme. A minimum of 100 days of employment is provided to registered workers upon receipt of their demand.