BJP national spokesperson Guru Prakash Paswan strongly defended the government's decision to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) with a new initiative during a media interaction in Gaya on Wednesday. He visited the city specifically to counter what he termed as misinformation surrounding the policy change.
Content Over Nomenclature: A Defence of the New Scheme
Speaking to journalists at the local Circuit House, Paswan argued that any government program should be evaluated on its substantive merits rather than its name. "Content, not the name, matters," he asserted. He accused the Congress party of engaging in cheap politics and emotional blackmail by invoking Mahatma Gandhi's name in the debate.
While acknowledging that MNREGA performed reasonably well in its initial years after its 2006 launch, Paswan stated the scheme later became burdened by systemic failures. He claimed its continuation was against national interest due to pervasive inefficiency, corruption, and mismanagement.
Alleged Shortcomings of the Old MNREGA
Paswan listed several critical flaws in the implementation of MNREGA. He highlighted that the infrastructure created under the scheme often suffered from poor quality, a lack of proper planning, and an absence of foresight, resulting in assets that were "poor and less productive."
He further alleged that many projects remained only partially finished, making them useless. The selection of schemes, he claimed, lacked due diligence and was frequently whimsical, influenced by external considerations rather than community need.
Corruption was a major issue, with manipulated records allegedly depriving genuine beneficiaries of their rightful wages and benefits. Paswan added that these anomalies negatively impacted agricultural production in rural areas.
Promises of the New VB-GRAM-G Act
In contrast, Paswan presented the new Vikasit Bharat – Rozgar Aur Aajivika Mission Guarantee (VB-GRAM-G) Act as a better-conceived solution addressing the predecessor's flaws. He outlined its key provisions designed to ensure greater transparency and accountability.
The new scheme promises:
- Better and guaranteed livelihoods for rural workers.
- Creation of higher-quality, productive assets.
- Extended employment guarantees.
- Job creation aligned with the needs of the agricultural sector.
- A balanced approach to protect the interests of both farmers and laborers.
- An integrated strategy for holistic rural development.
Paswan concluded by emphasizing that VB-GRAM-G would ensure superior resource utilization, more efficient execution of projects, and stronger financial accountability, marking a significant upgrade from the old system.
