Chennai: PMK president Anbumani and Congress MP Sasikanth Senthil on Thursday criticized the Union government for changing the funding pattern under the VB-GRAM G scheme, calling it a gross injustice and an infringement on state rights.
Reaction to News Report
Reacting to a news report published in TOI — 'TN loses out on VB-GRAM G funds' — they highlighted that Tamil Nadu has been receiving an average of 10% of the central government's total allocation for the scheme. This share would drop to 4.1% once the draft rules of the VB-GRAM G Act come into effect. They warned that this would have an adverse impact on rural populations dependent on the scheme. Apart from Tamil Nadu, other southern states would also face a similar situation from this fiscal year.
Anbumani's Statement
Anbumani, in a statement, condemned the Union government's draft plan to slash Tamil Nadu's fund allocation to Rs 3,923 crore for the upcoming 125-day rural employment guarantee scheme. The new scheme is set to replace the existing framework on July 1. He termed the reduction a gross injustice and an infringement on state rights, urging the Tamil Nadu government not to accept the decision quietly.
Sasikanth Senthil's Remarks
Sasikanth Senthil took to social media and said, 'This is exactly what happens when a rights-based programme is converted into a budget-allocation exercise. The result? States that effectively implemented the programme, controlled population growth, and delivered better developmental outcomes are pushed to the back of the queue. Once a right becomes a budget line item, deprivation becomes a matter of arithmetic. As usual, the southern states are left bearing the cost.'
