In a sharp critique of the central government, the Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, Partap Singh Bajwa, on Friday condemned the proposed move to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). He labelled the plan to introduce a new scheme, referred to as "VB G RAM G," as a deliberate and ideologically motivated attempt to dismantle the statutory right to work for rural citizens.
A Direct Assault on a Landmark Legislation
Bajwa asserted that this was far from a routine policy update. He framed it as a direct assault on the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi and a calculated rollback of one of independent India's most transformative social security laws. The Congress leader warned that the shift from 100% central funding for MGNREGA to a proposed 60:40 cost-sharing formula between the Centre and states would impose an unbearable fiscal burden on states already grappling with severe financial stress.
"This decision arms the Centre with yet another tool to discriminate against opposition-ruled states by arbitrarily curtailing funds," Bajwa stated. He argued that the move strikes at the core of cooperative federalism and threatens to cripple a crucial employment lifeline for millions in rural India.
Financial Squeeze and State Burdens
Highlighting Punjab's specific challenges, Bajwa accused the BJP-led central government of consistently squeezing opposition states. He cited the withholding of the Rural Development Fund (RDF) and delays in Goods and Services Tax (GST) compensation as examples of this pattern. "Punjab and several other states were forced to fight for their legitimate GST dues. In such a hostile fiscal environment, imposing additional financial liabilities will only push cash-starved states deeper into economic distress," he explained.
The senior Congress leader emphasised that the policy shift would disproportionately impact society's most vulnerable sections. He predicted that Dalits, landless labourers, and marginalised rural workers would bear the brunt of this regressive decision. "This is not reform; it is ideological vandalism and an unapologetic attack on social justice," Bajwa declared.
Eroding a Globally Recognised Model
Bajwa underscored the historical significance of MGNREGA, reminding that the landmark legislation was enacted by the Congress-led UPA government under former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. He noted that the scheme earned global recognition as a pioneering, rights-based model to tackle rural unemployment and prevent distress migration.
"Driven by its pro-corporate and pro-ultra-rich agenda, the Modi government has systematically hollowed out MGNREGA over the years, eroding its spirit and undermining a lifeline that sustained millions of rural families," Bajwa added. He concluded with a stern warning, stating, "This betrayal of rural India will not be forgotten."
