Shillong, December 19 : Vice President of the Meghalaya Pradesh Youth Congress (MPYC), Banphira Basaiawmoit, on Tuesday raised concerns over the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and other welfare schemes in the state, alleging gaps between official claims and ground realities.

Addressing a press conference, Basaiawmoit said job card holders across rural areas are facing delays in wage payments, fewer workdays, and irregular sanctioning of projects, which he said undermines the core objective of MGNREGA to provide livelihood security to rural households.

He accused the state government of failing to effectively utilise funds released by the Central Government, claiming that a significant portion of the allocated budget remains either unspent or inadequately implemented. According to him, the lack of transparency and accountability has adversely affected daily wage earners, particularly amid ongoing economic challenges.

The MPYC leader also criticised the government for allegedly excluding local bodies and communities from the decision-making process. He claimed that development projects are being planned without adequate consultation, leading to ineffective execution and incomplete works.

Reiterating the Congress party’s commitment to social justice, Basaiawmoit said welfare schemes such as MGNREGA were designed to uphold the dignity of labour, promote social equity, and provide economic security to the most vulnerable sections of society. He cautioned that continued mismanagement could result in rising unemployment and distress migration.

Basaiawmoit urged the state government to undertake an immediate review of MGNREGA implementation, clear pending wage payments, ensure timely allocation of work, and strengthen monitoring mechanisms. He added that the Youth Congress would continue to raise public concerns and hold the government accountable until corrective measures are taken.