Jharkhand Launches Statewide Campaign to Strengthen MGNREGA Amidst Central Overhaul Plans
The Jharkhand rural development department on Monday rolled out a comprehensive statewide campaign to commemorate two decades of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). This initiative aims to provide a guaranteed 100 person days of work to all beneficiaries registered under the scheme, reinforcing its commitment to rural employment security.
Political Tensions Over MGNREGA's Future
This programme was launched even as the Central government prepares to implement the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Grameen (VB-G Ram G) Act starting from the next financial year. The Union government has faced significant criticism from non-BJP governed states for its decision to replace the long-standing MGNREGA with this new legislation.
State Rural Development Minister Deepika Pandey Singh emphasized the importance of MGNREGA, stating, "MGNREGA has been the lifeline for rural India, providing dignity to countless poor families, labourers, and deprived communities by guaranteeing employment over the past twenty years. It is deeply unfortunate that the Union government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, is consistently taking steps to weaken this crucial scheme."
Enhanced Benefits and Transparency Measures
Minister Singh outlined the department's ambitious goals for the campaign:
- Ensuring 100 days of work for all families covered under MGNREGA
- Identifying maximum rural families for Aadhaar-linked e-KYC enabled job cards to ensure transparent benefit distribution
- Providing employment within 15 days to willing families as per their demand
"Our primary objective is to strengthen MGNREGA, which remains in full force and continues to serve as a vital support system for rural communities," she added, highlighting the state's determination to uphold the scheme's integrity.
Grassroots Protests and Activist Concerns
On the same day, hundreds of MGNREGA workers from various districts joined activists in a rally at Namkum under the banners of 'MGNREGA Bachao Morcha' and 'NREGA Watch.' Participants unanimously demanded the reimplementation and preservation of MGNREGA, expressing concerns about the proposed central replacement.
Jharkhand NREGA Watch coordinator James Herenz commented, "Instead of repealing MGNREGA and introducing a new law, the Union government should have focused on strengthening the existing framework by addressing its existing gaps and shortcomings."
Siraj Datta, an activist from Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha, raised additional concerns: "Under the proposed new legislation, the central government will have unilateral authority to determine what work occurs in villages and whether any work happens at all, as workers would be assigned tasks exclusively from centrally approved work-lists."
This development marks a significant moment in India's rural employment landscape, with Jharkhand taking a firm stance to protect MGNREGA while the Centre moves forward with its alternative employment guarantee scheme, creating a complex interplay between state and federal policies affecting millions of rural workers.
