Centre diluting MGNREGA in the name of rechristening it: CPI(M) State secretary

Condemning the rechristening of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) as the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G Ram G), CPI(M) State secretary V. Srinivasa Rao said the move would “take the life out” of the flagship rural employment scheme.

Mr. Srinivasa Rao was speaking at a protest organised by the party near the Gandhi statue here on Friday. The participants, wearing black armbands, expressed their dissent against the government’s decision.

Addressing the gathering, the CPI(M) leader alleged that the Centre’s move was intended to dilute the spirit of the employment guarantee programme. He questioned why the government had failed to formulate a similar Viksit Bharat scheme for unemployed urban youth.

Recalling that the MGNREGA was introduced in 2005 by the UPA government with the support of Left parties, he said the BJP-led NDA government had, since coming to power, systematically reduced allocations for the scheme and withdrawn the statutory guarantee on the number of workdays per household.

Mr. Srinivasa Rao further alleged that the Centre’s share of funds was proposed to be cut from 90% to 40%, shifting the remaining burden to the States. “The rural poor are already living a hand-to-mouth existence due to lack of work in the villages. MGNREGA has helped mitigate rural poverty to some extent, and it is the Centre’s responsibility to provide employment to the poor,” he said.

He urged the government to guarantee 200 days of work per year, strengthen the Act, and ensure that the entire funding is borne by the Centre.

CPI(M) State secretariat member K. Lokanadham, CITU State general secretary Ch. Narasinga Rao, district secretary M. Jaggunaidu, and State committee members K. Dhanalakshmi and B. Padma also participated in the protest.