If needed, will allocate more for NREGA, says FM Nirmala Sitharaman

Sitharaman said the government chose the capital expenditure route to revive the economy because of its greater multiplier effect

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday said the Centre would provide more funds to the rural job scheme under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) beyond the budgeted allocation for FY24 if there was need to do so.

This came amid criticism from the Opposition that the Centre was cutting funds to the flagship scheme. “(The) NREGA is a demand-driven scheme. Whenever there is an increase in demand, we have provided and will provide the sums required,” Sitharaman said, adding that the Budget Estimate for the scheme for FY24 factored in an economic recovery and a “massive