In a move steeped in political symbolism, the West Bengal government officially renamed its flagship 100-day rural employment scheme on Saturday. The program, previously known as 'Karmashree', will now be called 'Mahatmashree' in honour of Mahatma Gandhi.
A Direct Response to Central Government's Move
The state's notification, issued on Saturday, follows an announcement made by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee just two days earlier. Her decision came amidst a heated political controversy over the central government's move to rename the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). The central scheme is now set to be known as the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission–Gramin (VB-G RAM G) Bill.
Speaking at a business event in Kolkata on Thursday, Banerjee expressed regret for not including Gandhi's name in the state scheme initially. "We started the Karmashree scheme, but Gandhi ji’s name was not included. I’m really sorry, I’m ashamed," the Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief stated. She emphasized that the father of the nation's name should be preserved, as it was in MGNREGA. "If the Centre does not give respect to Mahatma ji, we will," she asserted.
The Political Clash Over VB-G RAM G Bill
The backdrop of this renaming is a significant parliamentary development. On Thursday, the penultimate day of the Winter Session, both Houses of Parliament passed the VB-G RAM G Bill. This new legislation seeks to replace MGNREGA and guarantees 125 days of rural wage employment annually, an increase from the previous 100 days.
The original MGNREGA was introduced by the Congress-led UPA government in 2005. The national opposition, including the TMC, strongly opposed the central government's bill. They demanded it be sent to a parliamentary committee for scrutiny, citing concerns over the financial burden it would impose on states. A major point of criticism was the removal of Mahatma Gandhi's name from the scheme.
The central government, however, defended the move, calling the new bill a "substantial improvement" over MGNREGA, which it described as a program "riddled with corruption and inefficiency."
Preserving Gandhi's Legacy, Says State
A senior West Bengal government official, quoted by news agency PTI, explained the state's perspective. "The renaming not only preserves the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi but also aligns our state programme with the spirit of public welfare," the official said.
This strategic renaming by the Trinamool Congress government positions it as a defender of Gandhi's legacy, directly contrasting with the Centre's decision. It highlights the ongoing political tensions between the state and central governments over policy and symbolism. The move reinforces Banerjee's political narrative of safeguarding Bengal's and the nation's values against the ruling dispensation at the Centre.
