The government today warned the states that no state-specific or local name be given to projects under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), failing which the funds can be discontinued.

Replying to a supplementary in the Lok Sabha, Rural Development Minister C P Joshi said instances have been brought to the notice of the Ministry where local names have been given to the sub-schemes undertaken by some states in convergence with MGNREGA.

"All such schemes which have been formulated or taken up in this mode utilising the funds provided under the Act may be discontinued or funded with the money of the state governments alone," the Minister said.

Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj said by converging local schemes, states are making MGNREGA more meaningful and objected to the Minister's warning of discontinuation of funds.

To this Joshi said the Act does not give permission to anybody to violate the Act.

Joshi said the Ministry has issued instructions to all states that projects under MGNREGA, where other schemes have been converged, will bear the name MGNREGA and this cannot be substituted by any other name.

Uttar Pradesh has maximum 11 sub-schemes, followed by seven in Madhya Pradesh. Andhra Pradesh has two while Gujarat and Rajasthan have one each, the Minister said.

Replying to another supplementary, Joshi said there was no plan to increase the number of working days beyond 100 under MGNREGA.