24.21 லட்சம் குடும்பங்களுக்கு வழங்க வேண்டிய ரூ.1,678.83 கோடி தாமதம். கிராமப்புறப் பொருளாதாரத்தைத் தாங்கி நிற்கும் தூண்களாக விளங்கும் மகாத்மா...

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin condemned the Union government for callous indifference in withholding 1,678.83 crore rupees in wage arrears owed to 24.21 lakh rural households under MGNREGA. Stalin stressed that Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act workers serve as the economic bedrock of rural Tamil Nadu, relying upon timely wage disbursements to sustain household livelihoods. Citing the classical wisdom of Thirukkural, the Chief Minister warned that the painful tears of distressed working citizens possess the power to dismantle authoritarian authority.

Stalin pointed out that the central government's prolonged fiscal negligence directly punishes vulnerable rural laborers, including agricultural workers, daily wage earners, and rural women who constitute the vast majority of beneficiaries. The Tamil Nadu administration has consistently championed workers' rights, ensuring that work allocation proceeds without disruption despite persistent central fund delays. Stalin noted that delaying statutorily mandated wages violates basic social security principles and economic justice.

The Chief Minister demanded that Union Rural Development Minister Giriraj Singh clear pending liabilities immediately to relieve grassroots distress. He affirmed that the DMK government will persistently fight for the constitutional economic entitlements of rural laborers.