NEW DELHI: Amid mounting attack from opposition parties, rural development minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday in a video message alleged that “once again, a conspiracy is underway to mislead the country in the name of MGNREGA” and said that that “Viksit Bharat – G Ram G scheme is in favour of the poor and development, and that this law provides a complete guarantee of employment to workers”.Meanwhile, the Congress held protests across its district headquarters in the country and accused the Modi government of “effectively dismantled MGNREGA – by converting it from a right to a favour” and “desecration of this groundbreaking law in Parliament over the last week”. Meanwhile, the Left parties have given a call for pan- India protest on Monday, demanding that the government withdraw the Bill passed in Parliament to repeal MGNREGA.
Parliament on Thursday passed the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) VB-G RAM G Bill that will replace the 20-year-old Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, or MGNREGA, once it is notified. The passage of the Bill was met with vociferous protests by the opposition in both Houses of Parliament.“Misinformation is being spread, whereas the truth is that Viksit Bharat – G Ram G scheme is the next step forward after MGNREGA,” Chouhan said in a message recorded in Hindi and shared along with a post on X where he addressed the public at large and the rural workers more specifically.Addressing “workers”, he said, “now it’s not 100, but a legal guarantee of 125 days of work. Provisions for unemployment allowance in case work is not provided have been further strengthened. If wages are delayed, provisions have also been made to provide additional amounts.”“For this scheme, a massive amount of more than Rs 1,51, 282 crore has been proposed this year itself, so that there is sufficient money to provide employment, and with that money, comprehensive development of the village can take place,” he added.On the way forward, Chouhan said “for a developed India, developed villages, self-reliant villages, and poverty-free, employment-rich villages will be built by taking up works for water conservation, infrastructure in villages, livelihood enhancing activities, and protection from natural disasters.”He also said that provisions have also been made so that small farmers do not face difficulties during agricultural work. Defending the law, the minister said, “it is in favour of the poor, in favour of development, and this law provides a complete guarantee of employment to workers.”He also highlighted the provision wherein administrative expenses have been increased from 6% to 9%. If we take out 9% from the proposed amount of Rs 1,51, 282 crore, it comes to approximately Rs 13000 crore; with this amount, our all those who get the work done – including panchayat secretaries, employment assistants, and technical staff – will receive timely and adequate salaries, so that they can carry out the work with full capacity.“Let us take the truth to the people,” Chouhan said at the end of his message.On Saturday, Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi in a video message, accused the Modi government of “bulldozing” MGNREGA, and asserted that the “black law” that seeks to repeal it will be defied by lakhs of party workers across the country. She said that she fought for MGNREGA two decades ago, and is as committed to fight for it again. Her statement came a day after Rahul Gandhi said Congress will force the Modi government to withdraw the new law. Slamming the repeal of MGNREGA while addressing the poor, she said, “We are all ready to counter this attack.”Building on that message the Congress on Sunday said that it held nationwide protests in all district headquarters across states, “standing with workers whose livelihoods and dignity are under attack.” The party accused the Modi government of “overturning two decades of progress” and “effectively dismantled MGNREGA – by converting it from a right to a favour” by passing the VB-G RAM G Bill.Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal, in a post on X said, “ MGNREGA was a legal right to work, not a welfare handout. By capping funds, centralising control, and altering its demand-driven nature, the BJP has turned this right into a budget-dependent scheme, pushing crores of rural families into insecurity and distress.”He also highlighted that at the Congress Working Committee meeting on December 27 the party will deliberate and decide the future course of action on the issue. Subsequently, on December 28 – the Foundation Day of the Congress – the party workers will hold programs in mandals and panchayats across India, carrying the portraits of Mahatma Gandhi.Sharing an anthology of 145 field studies conducted on MGNREGA between 2008 and 2012 – including one by the CAG, Congress general secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh accused the government of “overturning” two decades of progress “without consultation and by sidestepping all Parliamentary convention and procedure”.In a post on X Ramesh shared that it was on July 14 2012 that then Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh had released MGNREGA Sameeksha – an anthology of field studies bought out by the ministry of rural development. “It makes for required reading now, amidst the desecration of this groundbreaking law in Parliament over the last week,” he added.
