Tarunpreet Singh Sond accuses the Centre of delaying MGNREGA funds and questions the alleged ₹1,000 crore burden on Punjab.
Punjab Cabinet Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond has accused the Centre of failing to provide timely funds for MGNREGA workers in the state, alleging that the responsibility for delayed payments is instead being shifted onto the Punjab government.
According to Tarunpreet Singh Sond, the Punjab government has repeatedly approached the Centre through written communications seeking the release of funds for MGNREGA workers. However, he alleged that the Centre has not provided a satisfactory response to these requests.
Centre accused of delaying MGNREGA funds
The Punjab minister said that the issue is not related to the state government’s willingness to pay workers but to the availability of funds from the Centre. He claimed that despite repeated requests, Punjab has not received the required financial support in a timely manner.
The minister’s remarks have brought the issue of MGNREGA wage payments and Centre-state financial relations into focus, particularly with the Punjab government questioning the treatment being meted out to the state.
ਮਗਨਰੇਗਾ ਕਾਮਿਆਂ ਦੇ ਪੈਸੇ ਕੇਂਦਰ ਨਹੀਂ ਭੇਜਦਾ ਤੇ ਕਸੂਰ ਸੂਬਾ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਦਾ ਕੱਢਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ!
ਕੈਬਿਨੇਟ ਮੰਤਰੀ @TarunpreetSond ਨੇ ਦੱਸੀ ਮਾਮਲੇ ਦੀ ਅਸਲੀਅਤ
👉🏻 ਵਾਰ-ਵਾਰ ਭੇਜੀਆਂ ਜਾਂਦੀਆਂ ਲਿਖਤੀ ਬੇਨਤੀਆਂ ‘ਤੇ ਕੇਂਦਰ ਨਹੀਂ ਦਿੰਦਾ ਕੋਈ ਜਵਾਬ
👉🏻 ਵੀਬੀ-ਜੀਰਾਮਜੀ ਯੋਜਨਾ ਰਾਹੀਂ ਸੂਬਿਆਂ ‘ਤੇ ਪਾਇਆ ₹1000 ਕਰੋੜ ਦਾ ਵਾਧੂ ਬੋਝ
👉🏻 ਪਹਿਲੀ… pic.twitter.com/KiPGlTlkPV— AAP Punjab (@AAPPunjab) August 6, 2026
₹1,000 crore additional burden on states
Tarunpreet Singh Sond also highlighted what he described as an additional financial burden of around ₹1,000 crore on states through the VIB-Giramji scheme.
He argued that such additional financial responsibilities can put further pressure on state governments, particularly when funds required for employment and wage-related programmes are already a concern.
Mann government paid salaries from its own funds
The Punjab Cabinet Minister further claimed that during the first installment, the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government arranged funds from its own resources and ensured that workers’ salaries were paid up to September.
According to the minister, this demonstrates that the state government has taken steps to protect the interests of workers even amid delays in receiving funds from the Centre.
The issue is significant because MGNREGA provides employment opportunities and wage support to rural households. Any delay in the release of funds can directly affect workers who depend on timely payments.
Sond challenges BJP over Punjab’s treatment
Tarunpreet Singh Sond also questioned the BJP over what he described as discriminatory treatment towards Punjab. He called upon BJP leaders to seek an explanation from the Centre regarding the alleged delay in releasing funds and the financial burden being placed on the state.
The minister’s statement has intensified the political debate between the Punjab government and the Centre over the implementation and funding of rural employment programmes.
For Punjab, the key concern remains ensuring that MGNREGA workers receive their wages on time and that the state’s financial responsibilities under centrally linked schemes do not create additional pressure on its resources.
The controversy is likely to keep the issue of Centre-state funding and MGNREGA payments in the political spotlight, with the Punjab government demanding clarity from the Centre over the alleged delay and its impact on workers.
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