Democratic MGNREGA Front Unveils State-wise Data, Questions BJP-Led Centre's Commitment
The Democratic MGNREGA Front has released a comprehensive comparative analysis of data from various states, raising serious questions about the BJP-led central government's dedication to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). In a media briefing, the union also launched a sharp critique of the proposed VB G Ram G law, alleging that it would further undermine rural employment guarantees across the country.
State Performance Analysis Reveals Stark Contrasts
Addressing journalists, the Front presented findings indicating that states governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have performed the poorest in delivering the mandated 100 days of employment under MGNREGA. In stark contrast, states led by regional political parties demonstrated significantly better outcomes, highlighting a clear disparity in implementation priorities.
Kulwinder Kaur, the district head of the union, explained that the front conducted an in-depth analysis of MGNREGA data available on the official website over the past four years. The study assessed how many families, on average, received 100 days of employment per village in different states, providing a granular view of the scheme's effectiveness.
Detailed State-wise Breakdown of Employment Figures
According to the Front's findings, the performance across states varied dramatically:
- Punjab ranked at the absolute bottom with only one family per village completing 100 days of work.
- Haryana recorded less than one family per village, followed by Gujarat with two families.
- Uttarakhand reported three families, Bihar had four, Madhya Pradesh five, and Uttar Pradesh 10 families per village.
On the positive side, several states showcased much stronger performance:
- Jharkhand provided 100 days of employment to an average of 20 families per village.
- Himachal Pradesh and Tamil Nadu each supported 23 families per village.
- Andhra Pradesh reached 36 families, while West Bengal achieved an impressive 141 families per village.
- Kerala emerged as the top performer with 545 families per village completing 100 days of work.
Front Leaders Decry Central Government's Approach
Gurmeet Singh, chief advisor of the Democratic MGNREGA Front, stated that the data reflects the priorities of ruling parties over the past five years. "This analysis exposes the BJP governments' approach towards rural employment and explains why the central government has steadily diluted MGNREGA, even as it claims to extend work to 125 days," he asserted. He further noted that the performance of Congress-ruled Karnataka was also "far from satisfactory," indicating broader systemic issues.
Referring specifically to West Bengal, Gurmeet Singh highlighted a troubling paradox: despite one in every three active MGNREGA households completing 100 days of employment, the central government has halted the scheme in the state for the past three years. "The state government has been forced to approach the Supreme Court," he said, adding that under the proposed VB G Ram G law, it would become easier for the Centre to suspend MGNREGA in any state, leaving courts with limited scope to intervene.
Call to Action and Upcoming Protest
The Democratic MGNREGA Front has made a fervent appeal to villagers across the nation to participate in a protest against the central government scheduled for January 26 in Patiala. The demonstration aims to demand the protection and strengthening of MGNREGA, ensuring that rural employment guarantees remain robust and accessible to all eligible households.
This detailed analysis by the Front underscores the critical need for transparent and equitable implementation of MGNREGA, particularly as rural economies face ongoing challenges. The stark differences in state performances suggest that political will and administrative efficiency play pivotal roles in the success of such welfare schemes.
