Senior Congress leader and former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram launched a scathing critique on Sunday against the central government's move to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). Addressing the media in Chennai, he termed the removal of Mahatma Gandhi's name from the landmark scheme as the "second killing of Mahatma Gandhi."
A Fraud on the People: Congress Vows Nationwide Protest
Chidambaram declared that the Congress party would vehemently oppose the new legislation until the original employment guarantee framework is reinstated. The party plans to expose what he called a "fraud" by going from house to house and village to village. He asserted that their struggle would persist until the newly passed Act is repealed.
Parliament, on December 18, passed the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, commonly referred to as the VB-G RAM G Bill. This new law seeks to replace the two-decade-old MGNREGA and promises 125 days of rural wage employment annually.
From Legal Right to Discretionary Scheme: Core Changes Alleged
The Congress leader argued that the fundamental nature of the employment guarantee has been reversed. "Under the original law, if a person demanded work, the government was legally bound to provide it. Now, people can only ask for work if the government first offers it," he explained. This, he claimed, turns a legal entitlement into a discretionary scheme.
He also raised concerns about the scheme's reduced coverage, stating it would now apply only to "notified districts" selected by the Centre, unlike MGNREGA's nationwide scope. Furthermore, he alleged a shift in financial responsibility, warning that implementation would suffer if states lack resources.
"Four years ago, the allocation was Rs 1,11,000 crore. For the past three years, Rs 86,000 crore. Next year, it is only Rs 65,000 crore. Any cost above Rs 65,000 crore is the state government's responsibility," Chidambaram detailed.
Confusing Names and Dire Consequences for the Poor
Chidambaram questioned the naming of the new program, pointing to the use of "Hindi words written in English letters." He suggested that titles like "Viksit Bharat G Ram G" would be confusing for rural populations in southern states and even for ministers. He added that the law mandates states to use this exact name to receive funds.
The senior politician warned that the rollback would severely impact the "ultra-poor," particularly women and daily wage earners. "The scheme is a safety net for 12 crore people who depend on daily wages. In Tamil Nadu, 90 to 95 per cent of workers are women; they will suffer the most," he stated.
He dismissed the Centre's claim of increasing workdays to 125 as "unrealistic," noting that the current national average stands at just 50 days. Recalling that MGNREGA was passed unanimously in 2005, he pointed out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had once described it as a "living monument" of the UPA's failures. "Now the same government is dismantling it," Chidambaram concluded.
