NEW DELHI: Congress on Friday accused the Narendra Modi government of trying to shut down the job guarantee scheme, MGNREGS, after reports said the Centre is inclined to push states to share the burden of wages under the flagship programme.
AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge said, “Modi government’s axe is working on MGNREGS. A 33% cut in the MGNREGS funds in the budget; the minister said MGNREGS is not a scheme to provide employment and states will have to pay 40% of the money that is completely the Centre’s responsibility. Narendra Modi ji, don’t finish off MGNREGS, the poor will not forgive you.”
The reaction followed media reports which quoted rural development minister Giriraj Singh as saying that states should bear 40% of the wage burden under the job scheme. At present, the wage component is completely funded by the Centre. The minister reportedly argued that if states bear the burden of wages, they will be conscious about curbing corruption.
The proposal marks a radical shift from the architecture of the programme, and is likely to face strong resistance from states and champions of the scheme, if pushed forward. Any tweak in the scheme will require an amendment in the Act.
Congress member Rahul Gandhi too lashed out at the government over its treatment of MGNREGS. “MGNREGS is the foundation of India’s rural economy. A revolutionary policy that has supported countless families. The MGNREGS scheme, which is running the homes of crores of families, is becoming a victim of the repressive policies of the Centre,” he wrote on Facebook.
AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge said, “Modi government’s axe is working on MGNREGS. A 33% cut in the MGNREGS funds in the budget; the minister said MGNREGS is not a scheme to provide employment and states will have to pay 40% of the money that is completely the Centre’s responsibility. Narendra Modi ji, don’t finish off MGNREGS, the poor will not forgive you.”
The reaction followed media reports which quoted rural development minister Giriraj Singh as saying that states should bear 40% of the wage burden under the job scheme. At present, the wage component is completely funded by the Centre. The minister reportedly argued that if states bear the burden of wages, they will be conscious about curbing corruption.
The proposal marks a radical shift from the architecture of the programme, and is likely to face strong resistance from states and champions of the scheme, if pushed forward. Any tweak in the scheme will require an amendment in the Act.
Congress member Rahul Gandhi too lashed out at the government over its treatment of MGNREGS. “MGNREGS is the foundation of India’s rural economy. A revolutionary policy that has supported countless families. The MGNREGS scheme, which is running the homes of crores of families, is becoming a victim of the repressive policies of the Centre,” he wrote on Facebook.