Chandigarh, Mar 26 (IANS): Amid the coronavirus crisis, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has sought financial assistance from the Centre to clear all liabilities under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme.

In a letter to Union Minister for Rural Development and Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar, the Chief Minister raised the issue of pending wage liabilities of MGNREGA workers in Punjab.

He apprised the Union Minister that as on March 24, wage liabilities of Rs 84 crore were pending for approximately 1.30 lakh workers in the state.

The Chief Minister pointed out that without daily wages, the MGNREGA workers would not be able to sustain their families in the prevailing COVID-19 emergency, with no fresh employment opportunities available during the current pan-India lockdown.

Expressing concern over the precarious situation, the Chief Minister urged the Union Minister to immediately release the pending wage liabilities without any further delay, to provide much-needed relief to the beneficiaries for subsistence of their families.