Bengal panchayat minister Pradip Majumdar has said that he assured his Union counterpart Giriraj Singh that enough initiatives had been taken in Bengal to ensure the 100 days’ job scheme has transparency while urging him to release funds under the scheme soon.

“The Union minister told me the Centre wants transparency in the implementation of the scheme. I assured him that enough steps had already been taken and I can explain to him in detail when we will meet,” Majumdar told The Telegraph, making it clear that the Union minister had called him up after he sought his appointment a couple of weeks ago.

“Hopefully I can get an appointment within a few days. I will make it clear to the minister that steps initiated by the state government can instill transparency,” the Bengal minister added.

The telephone conversation between the two ministers, sources said, was significant as it might help resolve the impasse.

“So far, officers were going to Delhi seeking funds. This is the first time a ministerial-level discussion was held. It may convince Delhi that the state is serious about eliminating corruption from the 100 days’ job scheme,” said a bureaucrat.

The Centre stopped the release of funds under the scheme since April this year, citing misappropriation of funds in its implementation in several districts.

The state government recently initiated several steps to maintain transparency in implementing the scheme.

“But still, the Centre was not convinced. Now, it remains to be seen if the state minister can convince his Union counterpart, when they meet, and hopefully within a few days,” said a senior government official.

Panchayat department sources said the state is banking on steps for transparency such as holding regular gram sabhas or appointing an ombudsperson in each district.

“It is a fact that these steps will enhance the accountability of rural bodies. Now, the state has to convince the Centre that all this is not being done only on paper,” said a source.

Some officials said another issue that the Centre might raise is recovery of the allegedly misappropriated funds.

“This remains the Achilles' heel of the Trinamul government as it can show a recovery of about Rs 2 crore so far against the Centre’s expectation of Rs 150 crore to Rs 200 crore,” said a source.

The tussle between the Centre and the state over implementation of the scheme has left crores of job card holders in Bengal in trouble.

Wages worth Rs 3,000 crore were not been paid since the Centre did not clear the additional mandays created by the state between November 2021 and March 2022.

Moreover, no job could be given to the villagers since April 2022 as the Centre did not approve the labour budget for Bengal, again citing irregularities.

Social activist Nikhil Dey accused the Centre of victimising poor workers over its dispute with the state. “If the central government has any issue with the Bengal government, it should sort them out at their level. Poor workers should not be victimised," Dey said.