West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday publicly tore up a Union government note that listed new rules for the MGNREGA scheme. She did this at a Trinamool Congress rally in Cooch Behar, on the same day the Centre restarted funding for the rural jobs programme after almost three years.

Banerjee Rejects the Centre’s Conditions

Speaking at the Ras Mela ground, Mamata Banerjee described the document as “valueless and insulting.” She said West Bengal would continue running its own employment scheme without taking “Delhi’s charity.” She accused the BJP-led central government of withholding funds to weaken the state before elections.

Banerjee said the letter, which arrived two days earlier, included “absurd and restrictive” conditions. These rules required states to submit quarterly labour budgets starting December 6 and make training compulsory before hiring workers.

Questions Over Timing and Implementation

Banerjee argued that the timeline made no sense because elections are only a few months away. She said, “Where is the time to show it? This is December, and the election is due early next year. Then they said training has to be provided.” She then tore the note on stage and added, “When will you train and when will you give the jobs? I say this piece of paper is valueless… We don’t want your mercy. I feel it is disrespectful."

A Fight for Federal Rights

Banerjee framed the dispute as a fight to protect the state’s autonomy. She said Bengal “has never bowed its head and never will.” She also claimed that, even after resuming payments, the Centre still owes West Bengal Rs 51,627 crore under MGNREGA.

Concerns Over Election-Time Fund Releases

Banerjee alleged that New Delhi may release some instalments just before the elections. She warned that such timing would leave the state with no real opportunity to start new projects.

Governance Updates Under Lakshmir Bhandar

During the rally, Banerjee also announced a change in the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme. She said elderly women enrolled in the programme would automatically receive pension benefits without filing additional applications.