The Punjab Congress has declared its firm opposition to the central government's move to rebrand and restructure the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). The party has announced a series of awareness programmes across the state, set to continue until December 30, to mobilize public opinion against what it calls the dilution of the landmark rural jobs scheme.
Congress Leadership Sounds the Alarm in Bathinda
The decision was announced in Bathinda on Thursday by AICC Secretary and former Punjab minister, Vijayinder Singla. Addressing mediapersons in the presence of Bathinda district president Rajan Garg and other local unit office bearers, Singla launched a sharp critique of the central government's actions. He stated that the scheme, originally brought by the then Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh nearly two decades ago, is being systematically undermined.
Singla emphasized that the renaming of the scheme to Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) or VB GRAMG is not merely a cosmetic change. He argued that it signifies a fundamental shift that goes against the interests of millions of rural labourers who have depended on the employment guarantee for years.
Key Grievances: Reduced Funding and State Burden
The core of the Congress's opposition lies in a significant change in the funding pattern. Singla highlighted that the central government's fund allocation for the scheme has been drastically reduced from 90% to 60%. This shift, he warned, places an immense and unsustainable financial burden on state governments.
"State governments are not financially in a position to provide these funds, which will adversely affect labourers," Singla asserted. He cautioned that this reduction would directly impact the implementation and reach of the scheme, ultimately hurting the rural workforce it was designed to protect.
The party plans to take this message directly to the people. Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring will personally reach out to labourers to inform them about the implications of the changes in the law.
Planned Resistance and Broader Political Preparedness
The Congress has made it clear that its awareness campaign is just the first step. Singla issued a stern warning, stating, "The Congress will build a movement if the central government does not stop diluting the erstwhile scheme." This indicates a potential escalation to larger street protests if their demands are not addressed.
Echoing this sentiment, Bathinda district president Rajan Garg declared that the district unit would vehemently oppose the VB GRAMG at the booth level. He confirmed that the entire Congress leadership in Punjab is prepared to take to the streets against the policy change.
Beyond this specific issue, Singla also urged Congress members to stay prepared for upcoming corporation elections. He instructed them to be vigilant and ready to oppose any highhandedness or unfair practices during these local polls, showcasing the party's focus on grassroots mobilization on multiple fronts.
The stage is now set for a period of heightened political activity in Punjab, with the Congress aiming to rally public support around the protection of MGNREGA, a scheme it considers its own legacy and a vital social safety net.
