Congress Leader Kang Urges PM Modi to Reverse MGNREGA Changes in Strongly-Worded Letter
Senior Congress leader and former Punjab minister Jagmohan Singh Kang has penned a critical letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding the immediate rollback of the decision to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) with the newly introduced VB-G RAM G Act of 2025. In his communication dated Monday, Kang described this move as "highly unfortunate and anti-poor," arguing that it undermines a crucial social safety net for India's rural population.
Objections to Name Change and Financial Burden Shift
Kang expressed strong opposition to two specific aspects of the new legislation. Firstly, he objected to the removal of Mahatma Gandhi's name from the scheme, calling it a "regressive attempt to erase the legacy of the Father of the Nation." Secondly, he criticized the provision that shifts 40 percent of the financial burden to state governments, labeling this as "a grave injustice to debt-ridden states like Punjab." He emphasized that this additional fiscal pressure comes at a time when many states are already grappling with severe financial crises.
Defending MGNREGA's Legacy and Legal Framework
In his letter, Kang highlighted that MGNREGA was originally launched during the Congress-led UPA government under former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. He stressed that the scheme was not merely a charity but a legally enforceable 'Right to Work' that has provided dignity and economic security to millions of rural laborers across India. "This historic scheme symbolized self-respect and constitutional entitlement, which is now being systematically weakened," Kang alleged, expressing concern over the erosion of these foundational principles.
Concerns Over Grassroots Democracy and Worker Rights
Kang raised several additional issues with the proposed changes, including:
- The abolition of the unemployment allowance, which he argued removes a critical safety net for job seekers.
- The centralization of powers previously held by gram panchayats, which he described as "a blow to grassroots democracy."
- The mandatory digitization and app-based attendance systems, which he warned could exclude poor and illiterate workers due to technical glitches, thereby denying them their rightful benefits.
Call for Review and Strengthening of Welfare Delivery
Asserting that a developed India can only be achieved by strengthening welfare delivery mechanisms rather than renaming schemes, Kang urged Prime Minister Modi to "immediately review the decision in public interest." He called for a return to the original framework of MGNREGA, which he believes better serves the needs of rural communities and upholds the constitutional rights of workers.
