Congress Criticizes Government Over MGNREGA Name Change
Congress Leader Slams Government's Move
On Tuesday, Congress leader B.K. Hariprasad strongly condemned the central government's reports regarding the renaming of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). He accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of failing to provide employment to rural poor, referring to him as "Mogambo." Hariprasad emphasized that while the MGNREGA is the only program offering jobs to rural impoverished individuals, Modi's record shows no significant contributions towards aiding the poor.
In a related development, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is expected to intervene during the Lok Sabha proceedings to oppose the proposed VB-G Ramji Bill, 2025, which seeks to replace the two-decade-old MGNREGA. Earlier, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge criticized the government's initiative to restructure the MGNREGA, labeling it an attempt to erase Gandhi's legacy and weaken the program.
Kharge's Strong Opposition
Kharge stated that renaming the MGNREGA is not merely a cosmetic change; it is part of a BJP-RSS conspiracy to dismantle the program. He pointed out that erasing Gandhi's name on the centenary of the RSS reflects the hypocrisy of leaders like Modi, who pay homage to Gandhi abroad while neglecting the rights of the poor. He asserted that the government, which turns a blind eye to the rights of the impoverished, is attacking the MGNREGA. The Congress party will vehemently oppose any decisions by this arrogant government that undermine the rights of the poor and workers, ensuring that the rights of millions of laborers are not usurped by those in power.
The proposed VB-G Ramji Bill includes several new measures such as AI-based fraud detection, real-time dashboards, GPS and mobile monitoring, weekly public disclosures, and biannual social audits for each gram panchayat. It also provides for enhanced oversight through central and state operating committees. Under this bill, the program will transition from a central sector scheme to a centrally sponsored scheme, with a funding ratio of 60:40 between the center and states, a 90:10 ratio for northeastern and Himalayan states, and full central funding for union territories without assemblies. The sixth session of the 18th Lok Sabha and the 269th session of the Rajya Sabha commenced on December 1, marking the start of the winter session of Parliament, which will conclude on December 19.