MGNREGS: State likely to receive Rs 70 cr soon

SHILLONG: Community and Rural Development Minister, Prestone Tynsong informed on Thursday that the State Government is expected to soon receive around Rs 70 crore from the Ministry of Rural Development out of the pending outstanding dues of around Rs 98 crore which is yet to be released to the village employment councils (VECs) for the works undertaken under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).
He also informed that the department has already released Rs 52 crore received from the Ministry in February last to the respective Block Development Offices to pay the outstanding dues to the VECs. Tynsong added that the outstanding dues till December 31 was Rs 149.83 crore.
Concerned over the delay in the release of funds by the Ministry Tynsong said, “We have urged the ministry to expedite the process of releasing the funds. We are hopeful that the problem will be resolved to a great extent in 2015-16.”