Hyderabad: Telangana is among fewer than half a dozen states yet to notify approval for implementing the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Gramin Act (VB-G Ram G), which will replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) from July 1.
Karnataka, Jharkhand, Mizoram and Kerala are also yet to formally join the VB-G Ram G Act, along with Telangana. On its part, the Centre has allocated ₹3,825 crore to Telangana under the scheme to support its transition from MGNREGA.
Sources said Telangana is still working out certain details of the VB-G Ram G Act and that the State Cabinet meeting to be held later this month will take a final call on whether to implement the new Act from July 1 or seek more time from the Centre, if implementation becomes mandatory.
The Telangana assembly had passed a resolution demanding that the Centre retain the name of Mahatma Gandhi for the scheme and opposed the 60:40 funding-sharing formula under the new Act, which contrasts with the 100% Central funding under MGNREGA.
A senior official told STOI that the Panchayat Raj Department is giving final touches to all formalities as per the new Act and that the matter will be placed before the state cabinet. However, before that, the state govt will send a letter to the Centre in a few days conveying its opposition to the VB-G Ram G scheme for implementation from July 1.
Panchayat Raj minister Danasari Anasuya Seethakka said a letter regarding the matter would be sent to the Centre. Amid pressure from the Centre to implement the new Act from July 1, the state govt has decided to communicate its views and objections.
Seethakka held a review meeting on Saturday at Jyotirao Phule Praja Bhavan to discuss the points to be included in the letter. Officials, including Panchayat Raj special chief secretary Dana Kishore and Panchayat Raj commissioner Divya Devarajan, briefed the minister on the provisions of the Act that the state is opposing.
However, officials pointed out that implementing the new policy is necessary to secure at least 60% of the required funds from the Centre. They also noted that several states across the country have already issued notifications regarding implementation of the new scheme. The meeting included a detailed discussion on approaches being adopted by other states.
Seethakka remarked that proposing the allocation of workdays based on a ‘normative’ method rather than actual demand is inappropriate. She said the Centre would be requested to remove the rule mandating a 60-day break in employment guarantee works during the agricultural season.
“The state receives abundant rainfall during the crop season, a time when initiatives such as ‘Vanamahotsav’ (tree plantation drives) and large-scale afforestation programmes are undertaken under the employment guarantee scheme. Imposing a 60-day break during this period would halt plantation activities, which contradicts the objectives of the Centre’s own ‘Green India Campaign’. Also, the crop season does not last for 60 days in tribal and hilly regions, making the implementation of this rule impractical in such areas,” she said.
The state govt will write to the Centre stating that a mid-project break of 60 days would disrupt ongoing development works and that the Centre should fully bear the costs of ongoing employment guarantee works, buildings and other infrastructure projects until their completion.
“The State govt will urge the Centre to postpone implementation of the new policy to allow necessary flexibility for the states. These objections will be formally conveyed through a letter. However, if the VB-G Ram G policy has to be implemented due to unavoidable circumstances, the state govt will take measures to ensure that employment guarantee workers do not suffer any financial loss. Officials will draft a plan to ensure workers are compensated for any potential losses,” Seethakka said, adding that a final decision on implementation of the new policy will be taken in the state cabinet.
