Mon Jan 13 15:50:10 UTC 2025: ## Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Urges Modi to Release ₹1,056 Crore in MGNREGS Dues

**Chennai, January 13, 2025** – Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting the immediate release of ₹1,056 crore in outstanding wages owed to workers under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). The funds, representing two months’ worth of wages, are currently unavailable due to the exhaustion of the allocated Labour Budget.

Stalin highlighted Tamil Nadu’s significant achievement of 23.36 crore person-days of wage employment in 2024-25, exceeding the initial Labour Budget of 20 crore person-days. He further emphasized a pending proposal, submitted on November 23, 2024, to increase the state’s Labour Budget from 20 crore to 35 crore person-days. This increase is crucial to accommodate the high demand and ongoing success of the program in the state.

The MGNREGS program in Tamil Nadu involves nearly 91 lakh workers from 76 lakh households, with a notable 86% female participation and 29% from Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes. Approximately 1 lakh differently-abled workers also benefit annually. Chief Minister Stalin stressed the importance of the scheme, especially given the upcoming Pongal festival, arguing that the delayed payments are causing significant financial hardship for thousands of families.

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