In a significant political development, Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) chief YS Sharmila has launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, accusing it of systematically undermining the employment guarantee rights of the poor. Speaking from Vijayawada, Sharmila highlighted how the replacement of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) with the VB Gram G Act casts a long and dark shadow over the livelihood security of millions across India.
Launch of Upaadi Haami Parirakshana Yatra from Anantapur
Sharmila formally inaugurated her state-wide Upaadi Haami Parirakshana Yatra from Bandlapalle village in the Singanamala constituency of Anantapur district on Monday. This strategic location holds historical significance, as it was from this very village that the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government launched MNREGA two decades ago on February 2, 2006. The yatra aims to mobilize rural communities, MNREGA workers, and job card holders in a concerted effort to defend the programme.
Contrasting MNREGA with VB Gram G Act
Addressing a large and attentive gathering, Sharmila voiced grave concerns over what she described as deliberate attempts by the Modi government to dilute the core principles of MNREGA through the introduction of the VB Gram G initiative. She underscored a critical distinction between the two schemes:
- MNREGA, popularly known as Upaadi Haami in Andhra Pradesh, is a legally guaranteed right to work that has empowered rural households by ensuring dignified employment and timely wage payments.
- VB Gram G Act, in contrast, offers no such statutory assurance of job security, thereby threatening to erode this hard-won right and destabilize the economic foundations of countless families.
Sharmila emphasized that MNREGA has served as a cornerstone of rural welfare for crores of Indian families, providing a safety net during economic hardships. She cautioned that recent policy changes risk reversing decades of progress in poverty alleviation and social justice.
Mobilizing Support Across Andhra Pradesh
The Upaadi Haami Parirakshana Yatra is set to traverse the length and breadth of Andhra Pradesh, galvanizing public opinion against the perceived threats to MNREGA. Sharmila's campaign focuses on educating rural populations about the potential consequences of the VB Gram G Act and rallying them to protect their employment guarantees. This movement highlights the ongoing political tussle over welfare schemes and their impact on India's most vulnerable citizens.
As the yatra gains momentum, it underscores the deepening divide between the Congress and BJP on issues of rural development and social security. The outcome of this mobilization could have far-reaching implications for the political landscape in Andhra Pradesh and beyond.
