Overview
- The Rural Development Ministry’s December 6 order resumes prospective implementation in West Bengal with immediate effect after a suspension that began on March 9, 2022.
- Resumption is contingent on special conditions including 100% e-KYC before issuing muster rolls, Aadhaar/APBS wage transfers, quarterly labour budgets, DPRs generated via SECURE Soft, and a ₹20 lakh cap per work.
- Operational directives require the FY26 labour budget within 30 days, a one‑month review and update of all job cards, geotagging and time‑stamping of pre‑estimation staff, and automatic suspension of works if muster rolls lag by a month.
- At a Cooch Behar rally, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee tore up the Centre’s note, called the norms “valueless,” pledged to run a state employment programme, and alleged ₹51,627 crore in unpaid dues.
- The move follows the Calcutta High Court’s direction for prospective implementation with conditions and the Supreme Court’s October 27 dismissal of the Centre’s challenge.