Thu Jun 19 17:31:57 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

The Calcutta High Court has ordered the resumption of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in West Bengal, ending a three-year suspension that affected approximately 2.5 crore workers. The ruling has sparked political reactions, with the ruling Trinamool Congress claiming credit and accusing the BJP of retribution, while the BJP blames the Trinamool’s corrupt practices for the initial problems. The agricultural workers’ union, Paschim Banga Khet Majoor Samity (PBKMS), which filed the petition, hailed the decision as a significant victory.

**News Article:**

**Calcutta High Court Orders Resumption of MGNREGS in West Bengal After 3-Year Halt**

**Kolkata, June 19, 2025** – In a move hailed as a victory for rural workers, the Calcutta High Court has directed the Union government to resume the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in West Bengal, effective August 1st. The scheme had been suspended for three years, impacting approximately 2.5 crore registered workers in the state.

The court order comes in response to a petition filed by Paschim Banga Khet Majoor Samity (PBKMS), an agricultural workers’ union, challenging the central government’s suspension. The union expressed gratitude to the NREGA Sangharsh Morcha for their solidarity in the fight.

The ruling has ignited a political firestorm, with both the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) vying for credit.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee welcomed the order, noting her government’s existing “Karmashree” scheme. TMC General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee accused the BJP of halting the scheme as “revenge” for their defeat in the 2021 Assembly elections.

Meanwhile, the BJP described the resumption as a “resounding slap to Trinamool’s corrupt machinery.” State BJP President Sukanta Majumdar alleged that the TMC would attempt to derail the scheme, claiming they “cannot tolerate any system that she doesn’t control and cannot exploit.”

BJP MP Shamik Bhattacharya echoed these sentiments, stating that the BJP and Union government “wanted to give people 100-day work money.” He further asserted that the TMC government had pushed people into poverty, making them dependent on the scheme.

The resumption of MGNREGS promises much-needed relief to rural workers in West Bengal after years of financial hardship due to the scheme’s suspension. The implementation of the court’s order will be closely monitored by PBKMS to ensure justice and dignity for the workers.

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