Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha has strongly defended the newly enacted Bharatiya Vikas Gramin Rozgar Mission Guarantee (BVGRAMG) Act, describing it as a landmark achievement for rural development. This praise comes even as the opposition Communist Party of India (Marxist) announced plans for statewide protests against the legislation and the labour policies of the Modi government.
CM Saha's Strong Defence of the New Act
Addressing the media in Agartala, Chief Minister Manik Saha stated that the primary aim of the BVGRAMG Act is to strengthen rural employment and build sustainable infrastructure. He emphasized that this would directly boost the rural economy and improve livelihoods. Dr. Saha argued that the new law is designed to enhance accountability within the employment guarantee programme, effectively addressing gaps that existed in the earlier Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) framework.
The Chief Minister clarified that the BVGRAMG Act, recently passed by parliament and approved by the President, was specifically crafted to rectify shortcomings of prior schemes. He accused the opposition of creating what he called "unnecessary controversy" and attempting to downplay the significant benefits that the legislation would bring to rural workers across the state and the nation.
CPM's Fierce Opposition and Demands
In sharp contrast, the opposition has launched a scathing attack on the new law. Jitendra Chaudhury, the CPM state secretary and leader of the opposition in Tripura, accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of trying to dismantle a crucial employment guarantee safety net. He underscored the historic importance of MGNREGA, which has guaranteed 100 days of work annually for rural labourers.
Chaudhury strongly condemned the removal of Mahatma Gandhi's name from the programme, labelling it "an extreme act of disrespect" and a politically motivated attempt to undermine a historic welfare legacy. He also dismissed government claims that the BVGRAMG Act would extend workdays from 100 to 125 per year, calling these promises "entirely false." He cited years of unmet commitments and delays in wage payments under the old MGNREGA scheme to support his skepticism.
Agitation Set to Intensify Across Tripura
The Left Front has pledged to escalate its agitation against the central government's labour policies. The party plans to expand its protests to reach every household in Tripura, mobilizing public opinion against the new act.
The CPM has put forward a clear set of demands, which include:
- The immediate repeal of the BVGRAMG Act.
- The reinstatement of the original MGNREGA.
- A legal guarantee of 200 workdays per year for rural labourers.
- An increase in wages to Rs 600 per worker per day.
Jitendra Chaudhury issued a warning that the party's campaign would continue relentlessly until these core demands are met by the government. This sets the stage for a significant political confrontation in the state, pitting the ruling BJP's vision for a reformed rural employment scheme against the opposition's defence of the existing welfare architecture.
