NREGA in West Bengal

New Delhi, Mar 15 (UNI) The Ministry of Rural Development has provided adequate funds to West Bengal government under National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA).

According to an official release here today, in 2007-08 upto February 15, this year, the total available funds with West Bengal, which includes the opening balance and contribution from the state was Rs 1,235.14 crore. Against this the expenditure has been Rs 688.48 crores which is only 55.74 per cent of total available fund.

During this period 39,847,11 households have been provided employment against the demand of 40,45,887 households.

This low expenditure has been because of the low persondays generated which is on average only 18 days per households till now.

Analysis based on the trend of actual expenditure, the number of persondays generated and cost per person days indicates that the state would have required Rs 89.81 crore for March, 2008. Against this the state has Rs 544.66 cores as unspent balance. This would still leave the state with a surplus of Rs 456.86 crores, it said.

UNI/BKS LS AS1744