Latest news with #MahatmaGandhiNationalRuralEmploymentGuaranteeScheme
Economic Times
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Economic Times
Centre contributed just 20% of Bengaluru Metro Rail project cost, says Deputy CM Shivakumar
IANS Deputy Chief Minister and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President D.K. Shivakumar (File Photo) Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Sunday said the Centre has very little role in the Bengaluru Metro Rail project as 80 to 90 per cent of the project cost was borne by the state government. He said the state government requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inaugurate the Yellow Line of Bengaluru Metro Rail from RV Road to the Electronic City out of respect for him. "Today Yellow Line has been inaugurated. 80 per cent of the project cost has been contributed by the State government and 20 per cent was borne by the BJP government at the Centre. In some places, the Centre has spent only 11 per cent," Shivakumar told reporters as Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Yellow Line of Bengaluru Metro at RV Road Metro Station."Centre has fully neglected Karnataka, but to respect Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we requested him to inaugurate the Metro Yellow Line," Shivakumar said. According to him, Karnataka state government gave money for the land acquisition and infrastructure. The Centre was supposed to shoulder 50 per cent of the project cost but it did not give money. "However, for the honour of Karnataka's state capital Bengaluru, which generates huge tax for the Centre, where every year nearly 1 lakh to 1.5 lakh new job creation happens and techies from across the country come here seeking job and also for the convenience of techies, we built metro rail till the electronic city," Shivakumar said. The Deputy CM said that the flyover in the Electronic City was constructed during Manmohan Singh's tenure. He also thanked Infosys, Biocon, Delta and others who donated money to build Metro stations."Some BJP people are projecting that the Metro Rail was a Central government project but the Centre has done nothing. No MP gave a penny or any cooperation for the Metro Rail project in Bengaluru. It is a matter of shame for all the MPs of Karnataka," he claimed that the Centre did not help Karnataka get funds under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. Alleging that the Centre did not give sufficient funds for the city's infrastructure, the Deputy CM appealed to Modi to give Rs 1 lakh crore for Bengaluru as has been given to the national capital Delhi "because this is the second highest tax-generating city in the country"."I am going to give a representation to him (Modi). I am requesting him not to ignore Bengaluru. Treat it like the national capital," Shivakumar claimed that the Centre has contributed 20 per cent share in Ahmedabad infrastructure project but in Bengaluru, it has given only 10 per cent, which is a well-documented fact."I don't want to indulge in politics and there is no need for it but I am bringing this to his (Modi's) notice. MPs must set aside politics and bring central grants to serve people," the Deputy CM a swipe at the Bengaluru MPs, he said this is not a service to just post things in the social media with photographs and get coverage in the newspapers. "Your conscience should permit. You should work like that," Shivakumar asked about BJP claiming that Modi gifted Metro Rail to Bengaluru, Shivakumar said no one has any role in claimed that the Metro Rail project was started by former Congress Chief Minister late S M Krishna when late Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister of the country."Let them (BJP leaders) release their statistics to show how much money did they give for the metro project and I will also reveal our data," he said. The ruling Congress and opposition BJP in Karnataka have locked horns over the Metro Yellow line. Congress is claiming that the state government made the project happen, while the BJP said the Centre has contributed to the Metro Line.
Time of India
20 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
How Jharkhand is increasing green cover and boosting rural economy at the same time
Ranchi: Rapid deforestation, which is leading to environmental degradation, has emerged as a global concern over the past few decades. For Jharkhand, the challenge is to strike a balance between mining and industrial activities and preserving its forest cover, which spreads roughly across 28% of its total geographical area. The state govt is now quietly laying the groundwork for a green revolution by planting crores of saplings of fruit bearing trees across Jharkhand with a two-pronged aim; to increase green cover and improve the lives of rural people by providing them with alternative livelihood opportunities. At the heart of the initiative is Birsa Harit Gram Yojana. Launched in 2016-17 FY by the state rural development department under the Centre's Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). Known as Birsa Aam Bagwani Yojana then, the scheme was relaunched in 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic, to financially assist the thousands of migrant workers from the state who returned to their homes jobless. Ever since, the scheme provided a lifeline to the rural population by benefitting over 1.67 lakh families by promoting the cultivation of fruit-bearing trees. The scheme began by promoting the cultivation of high-yielding Amprapali and Mallika varieties of mangoes in some blocks of Khunti district. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cyprus investments might be cheaper than you think Investments Cyprus | Search Ads Get Info Undo Locals were encouraged to transform fallow land into into mango orchards under MGNREGS, where they get benefits of the scheme and can earn a livelihood through selling the produce once the plants start bearing fruits. "The scheme was designed to promote MGNREGS workers as owners of their orchards. While preparing their land for cultivation, they get wages under MGNERGS and at the same time, they are creating an asset for themselves. As the land gets ready for cultivation, they are provided with plant saplings, fertilisers, and technical support under MGNREGS. Till the plants start producing fruits, the beneficiaries cultivate vegetables and earn money by selling those," said Mritunjay Kumar Barnwal, Jharkhand MGNREGA commissioner. Beneficiaries get to plant 112 mango saplings and 80 timber-yielding saplings per acre of land, which include teak, Indian rosewood and mahogany, which can help them elevate from the poverty line and sustain their family's livelihood through horticulture for the long term. To bridge the knowledge gap about nuances of horticulture, BHGY guidelines, and plant upkeep and mortality, a cadre of more than 15,000 well-trained 'Bagwani Sakhis' has also been employed by the rural development department. "Apart from mangoes, the farmers have started planting guava, lemons and pears saplings. Plans are afoot to promote cultivation of litchis; cashew nuts and other high-priced fruits are in the pipeline. Approximately 2.17 crore saplings have been planted so far across the state," Barnwal said. What started as a plantation drive in a few hundred acres in 2016-17 FY has covered 1.49 acres of fallow land statewide in nine years. Over 1.6 crore fruit bearing saplings and 63 lakh timber saplings were planted as well during this period. This year, the department aims to transform 50,000 acres into green patches and plant 1 crore saplings in the ongoing financial year. Jharkhand has a population of around four crores at present, and the dept. has set a goal to transform the govt's vision of 'one plant one person' into reality by the end of the current financial year. Department sources said carrying out plantation in an acre over 10 years costs a farmer Rs 55,000. However, they can earn up to Rs 2 lakh during the same period. Solki Devi, a farmer from Palamu district, earned around Rs 2 lakh in three years after she enlisted for BHGY's benefits in 2021-22 FY. She Solki planted 112 Amprapali and Mallika varieties of mango plants and 80 timber plants in one acre of land. "As the mango trees take around three years they reach the fruit-bearing stage. I cultivated cabbage, cauliflower, radish and other vegetables in the same land for three years and earned around Rs 50,000 per year by selling those. As the mango trees bore fruit, I earned another Rs 61,000 this year by selling 18 quintals of mangoes. BHGY has drastically changed my life. Previously, I had no source of earning, but I am earning in lakhs every year," she said. Triloki Singh from Koderma, who used to work as an agricultural labourer till 2020 before he became one of the beneficiaries of BHGY, was living in a hand-to-mouth situation. But his life changed drastically after becoming a beneficiary of the scheme. "I earned Rs 40,000 by selling around 15 quintals of mangoes in 2024 and Rs 60,000 this year. In the last three years, I have earned around Rs 40,000 per year by selling the vegetables produced in my land," Triloki added. Karim Malik, associate director of a Delhi-based NGO, Transform Rural India Foundation (TRIF), who has been associated as a knowledge partner of BHGY, said, "From preparing season specific guidelines for vegetable cultivation until the plants start producing fruits, to planning marketing strategies of the produce, all are done by TRIF in association with the dept. In the last two years, mangoes produced under BHGY have been exported to Arab countries, Singapore, Cambodia and other foreign countries. " "Once mango cultivation reaches a surplus point, besides exporting to other countries, the mangoes can be used for the production of other value-added products, such as mango juices, and mango pulp which again create livelihood opportunities for the people of Jharkhand," Malik added. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Raksha Bandhan wishes , messages and quotes !
Mint
a day ago
- Business
- Mint
The week in charts: US tariff wrath, inflation outlook, India-US defence deal
From the additional 25% tariffs imposed on India by the US, to lower inflation projections by the Reserve Bank of India, to a potential deal worth billions between India and the US, here are this week's news in numbers: Tariff wrath Days after imposing a 25% tariff on Indian imports, US President Trump announced an additional 25% penalty tariff for trade ties with Russia. This brings India's total reciprocal tariff burden to 50%, placing it among countries facing the highest US tariff rates. This has also led to a huge trade disadvantage for India compared to many of its peers that are facing 19-30% tariffs. India has called the move unfair and said it would take 'all actions necessary" to protect its national interests. Policy pause The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Wednesday left the policy repo rate unchanged at 5.5% despite lowering its inflation projections for the full year by 60 basis points. The decision came against the backdrop of an outsized 50-basis-point cut in June and an expectation of higher inflation in the fourth quarter of the current fiscal year. Retail inflation has been below the medium-term target of 4% for five months now, but is expected to have already bottomed out. However, inflation risks may have to be weighed against the risks emerging from higher US tariffs going forward. Defence diplomacy $850 billion: That's the value of the direct market access Indian companies would gain if the reciprocal defence procurement agreement (RDPA) with the US is finalized. India and the US are negotiating this landmark deal that would open each country's defence procurement market to the other, Mint reported. The agreement would enable Indian defence manufacturers to sell components and technologies like spy satellites directly to the US. Companies would be able to partner with American entities without cumbersome government approvals. An official announcement is likely within a year, but it would also depend on the current trade shift Demand for rural jobs under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) fell to a 10-month low of 16.6 million in July as a good monsoon pulled millions of workers back to agricultural fields. The drop was sharp from 28.83 million in April, 28.83 million in May, and 27.56 million in June. The July decline reflects the typical mid-year dip when agricultural activity attracts more labour from public works under the job guarantee scheme, indicating signs of continued rural economic resilience. Flourishing firms The share of companies recording quarterly losses declined significantly in the April-June quarter, showed a Mint analysis of 1,047 BSE-listed companies. The share of loss-making firms declined sharply to 16.4% in Q1 FY26 from 20.5% in the preceding quarter. With this, the share hit a five-quarter low. This became possible as 110 companies in the sample flipped their fortunes by recording profit in Q4 FY25 compared to only 75 in the previous quarter. Notable turnarounds included Quess Corp, a leading workforce management firm, which posted a ₹52.71 crore profit after a ₹81.26 crore loss in Q4. Crude calls 547,000: That's the barrels per day increase in oil production expected from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies (OPEC+) for September. This represents the latest call to hike output to regain market share as concerns mount over potential disruptions in Russian supply amid sanctions. The US and the EU have intensified pressure on India to halt Russian oil purchases, aiming to force Moscow into Ukraine peace negotiations. OPEC+, which produces half the world's oil, had curtailed production for years to support prices. Growth momentum India's services activity reached an 11-month high in July, driven by rising new business, strong demand and robust export orders. The HSBC services purchasing managers' index (PMI) climbed to 60.5 in July, marginally up from 60.4 in June and 60.3 in the same month last year. The index has been above the 50-point threshold separating growth from contraction for over two years. Meanwhile, manufacturing activity surged to a 16-month high of 59.1 in July, buoyed by strong output and job creation across industrial sectors. Chart of the week: Regional divide India's prosperity race is divided. Western and southern states dominate in per capita income due to robust industrial and IT sectors, while the traditionally poor states—Bihar and Uttar Pradesh—continue to lag, showed the latest available state-wise data on per capita net state domestic product (NSDP).
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Gujarat MGNREGA mess: Jobs shrink, Rs 4.37 crore wages unpaid, corruption FIRs pile up
AHMEDABAD: In a damning admission, the Central Government has confirmed in the Rajya Sabha that large-scale corruption has marred the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA) in Gujarat's Dahod district, triggering three FIRs. The disclosure comes amid a steady fall in beneficiaries, mounting wage liabilities of over Rs 4 crore, and a high-profile Rs 71 crore scam case involving the sons of a state minister. Corruption in Gujarat's flagship rural jobs scheme has moved from whispers to official record. On Friday, the Central Government admitted in the Rajya Sabha that MGNREGA in Dahod district is riddled with irregularities, with three separate FIRs already lodged by government officers BM Patel, SV Bambharoliya, and JG Ravat. The revelation, made in response to a question by Congress MP Shaktisinh Gohil, comes on the back of simmering outrage over alleged embezzlement by politically connected figures. Only months ago, Balwant and Kiran Khabad, sons of Gujarat Minister Bachu Khabad, were arrested for their alleged role in siphoning off Rs 71 crore from MGNREGA funds in Devgadh Baria and Dhanpur talukas. Both are currently out on bail. Gohil wasted no time in framing the issue as a political scandal, accusing BJP leaders and their associates of 'corruption worth crores' while the state's chief minister 'threatens sarpanchs' to keep the system pliable. "In reply to my question in the Rajya Sabha today, the central government has admitted there is massive corruption in MGNREGA in Gujarat, corruption worth crores by BJP leaders and their cronies. In Dahod alone, three government officers have been forced to file FIRs, and 10 investigation teams are already at work. Instead of acting, the Chief Minister is threatening sarpanchs, while his own ministers and bigwigs are looting crores. I demand strict action against them," said Gohil. But the problem runs deeper than criminal charges. The same Rajya Sabha data shows a steady erosion of MGNREGA's reach in Gujarat from 0.16 crore beneficiaries in 2022–23, to 0.15 crore in 2023–24, and just 0.13 crore in 2024–25. On top of that, as of July 28, 2025, the state is staring at Rs 4.37 crore in pending wage liabilities. The corruption complaints are not limited to Dahod; similar allegations have surfaced in districts like Bharuch and Devgadh Baria, but Dahod now stands as the epicentre of a scandal that fuses political muscle, public money, and vanishing rural entitlements into one grim picture.
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
NITI Aayog conducting evaluation study of MGNREGS, minister tells LS
THE NITI Aayog, the government's premier think tank, is conducting an evaluation study of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), the government informed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. In a written reply to a question, Union Minister of State of Rural Development Kamlesh Paswan informed the House that the Development, Monitoring and Evaluation Office (DMEO), NITI Aayog, has recently taken up the evaluation study of the scheme. The development is significant as it comes at a time when the Ministry of Rural Development has circulated a proposal seeking approval of the Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) for continuation of MGNREGS and an outlay for Rs 5.23 lakh crore till financial year 2029-30, a period that coincides with the next Finance Commission (16th) cycle. The EFC is a central body that appraises government schemes and projects; it comes under the Ministry of Finance. Replying to a question by CPI(ML)L member Sudama Prasad, Paswan said, 'The Internal Audit Wing (IAW) under the Office of the Chief Controller of Accounts (CCA) has been conducting Risk-Based Internal Audits of MGNREGS implementation in states since FY 2013-14… Risk-Based Internal Audits of MGNREGS have been conducted in 225 districts of 30 states/UTs since 2013-14.' 'Further, Amarjeet Sinha Committee was constituted in 2021 to examine various factors affecting demand for wage employment in the rural sector in different parts of the country and to study/analyse the trends of expenditure across states under MGNREGS along with reasons for inter-state variations with specific focus on governance issues. The report of the Committee has since been received and some of the recommendations have been identified for appropriate action,' Paswan said, sharing details of the internal audits and review of the MGNREGS conducted in recent years. 'In addition to this, DMEO, NITI Aayog, too has recently taken up an evaluation study of MGNREGS,' he said. The NITI Aayog conducted the last evaluation study of the MGNREGS in 2019-20. At the time, the think tank had also conducted the evaluation study of five other schemes. 'The study focused on the effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and sustainability of these schemes, including the MGNREGS, to gauge their overall contribution to the national rural economy,' Paswan said. The evaluation study by NITI Aayog is crucial for getting approval of the EFC, said a source. The Ministry of Finance has told all ministries and departments that no Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) or Central Sector Scheme (CS) will be considered for continuation beyond March 31, 2026, unless a third-party evaluation of the scheme is carried out. Sources say that the EFC approval and appraisal is part of the Centre's exercise to evaluate and approve its schemes for the next Finance Commission cycle. The MGNREGS is backed by law and therefore the EFC approval is just a formality. Harikishan Sharma, Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express' National Bureau, specializes in reporting on governance, policy, and data. He covers the Prime Minister's Office and pivotal central ministries, such as the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare, Ministry of Cooperation, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ministry of Rural Development, and Ministry of Jal Shakti. His work primarily revolves around reporting and policy analysis. In addition to this, he authors a weekly column titled "STATE-ISTICALLY SPEAKING," which is prominently featured on The Indian Express website. In this column, he immerses readers in narratives deeply rooted in socio-economic, political, and electoral data, providing insightful perspectives on these critical aspects of governance and society. ... Read More
