Hyderabad: The Telangana Legislative Assembly on Friday passed a resolution advocating for the continuation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), calling the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, which was meant to replace it, is detrimental to the welfare of the poor.
The resolution, tabled by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, was passed unanimously by a voice vote. The resolution describes the new law as infringing on the rights of the poor, undermining women labourers, and violating the principles of federalism.
It noted that the MGNREGS was implemented in 2005 by the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government, striving to create jobs for rural communities and ensure financial stability for low-income families.
The Act, which came into effect on February 2, 2006, aimed to reduce poverty, unemployment, migration, the exploitation of unskilled labourers, and wage disparities between men and women, and to promote the development of all sections of society. It also noted that the main goal of this Act is to ensure that every rural household receives at least 100 days of employment per year, with a guaranteed minimum wage.
The Chief Minister stated that over the past 20 years, approximately 90 per cent of the beneficiaries of this scheme in the State have been from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Backwards Classes, of which 62 per cent were women. He also added that Dalits, tribals, persons with disabilities, and members of backward tribes and other poor communities have benefited the most.
The Chief Minister stated that the new law threatens the employment guarantee for rural women and vulnerable members of society who rely on this scheme.
The provisions that alter the original employment guarantee program could weaken it and burden the poor. The resolution also stated that they go against the rights granted to the poor by undermining the original purpose of the Employment Guarantee Act.
According to the resolution, the law also ends the system of preparing work plans based on demand and introduces a limited allocation system, thereby reducing the number of workdays. Additionally, changing the fully centrally funded scheme to a 60:40 ratio through the new law violates the spirit of federalism.
(With IANS inputs)
