TNCC President Manickam Tagore has alleged that the Union Government is practicing 'step-motherly treatment' toward Tamil Nadu by withholding ₹2,087 crore meant for MGNREGS.

  • Centre accused of withholding ₹2,087 crore in MGNREGS funds for Tamil Nadu.
  • RTI data reveals a significant decline in fund allocation over three years.
  • TNCC President Manickam Tagore has demanded immediate release of pending dues.

In a scathing attack on the BJP-led Union Government, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) President Manickam Tagore on Tuesday alleged that the Centre is withholding ₹2,087 crore due to Tamil Nadu under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).

Citing information obtained through the Right to Information (RTI) Act, Mr. Tagore accused the Union Government of a continued "step-motherly treatment" of the state. He emphasized that the withholding of these crucial funds is placing an immense financial burden on the state exchequer.

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The Statistical Decline

The data presented by the TNCC President highlights a worrying downward trend in central funding. According to the RTI findings, the funds released by the Centre saw a sharp decline from ₹13,395 crore in 2023-24 to ₹10,744 crore in 2024-25, a drop of nearly 20%. The situation worsened in 2025-26, where allocations plummeted to just ₹6,254 crore, marking a staggering 53.31% reduction compared to the 2023-24 baseline.

During the period between April 1 and June 30 of the 2026-27 financial year, the Tamil Nadu government successfully provided employment to 31.47 lakh workers from 29.83 lakh families, generating 3.22 crore person-days of work. Despite this massive scale of operation, the lack of central support remains a hurdle.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that such fiscal friction between the Union and State governments often results in a direct hit to the rural economy. When central funds for social security schemes like MGNREGS are delayed, it creates a ripple effect, affecting the purchasing power of rural households and the overall stability of the state's welfare ecosystem.

The systematic reduction in MGNREGS allocations threatens to dismantle the rural safety net that millions of families rely on.

Mr. Tagore addressed a formal letter to the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, questioning the decision to withhold funds while rural populations face increasing livelihood challenges. He urged the Ministry to cease actions that are actively hampering rural development in the state.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the impact of withheld MGNREGS funds?
It creates a financial deficit for the state government and can lead to delays in wage payments for rural laborers.

2. Who is Manickam Tagore?
He is the President of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) and a prominent political leader in the state.

Did You Know?: MGNREGS is considered one of the largest social security programs in the world, providing a legal guarantee for wage employment.