Facing criticism over the replacement of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) with a new initiative, the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Punjab unit has announced a major public outreach campaign. The campaign for the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission (Gramin) is set to commence on January 7 from the Fazilka district.
Countering Opposition and Spreading Awareness
Punjab BJP President Sunil Jakhar stated that the campaign aims to educate the public about the benefits of the new scheme and counter what the party calls "misleading propaganda" spread by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress. Jakhar asserted that the opposition parties are opposing the pro-poor scheme and spreading falsehoods to cover up their own failures and divert public attention from core issues.
He emphasized that the VB-GRAM G was formulated with the welfare of the poor in mind, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's principle of "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas." The BJP plans to break the "web of misinformation" through this extensive public awareness program, directly engaging with laborers and the rural populace.
Key Features and Accountability Measures
Outlining the advantages of the new framework, Jakhar highlighted several key improvements. He pointed out that the government has increased the number of guaranteed employment days for the poor from 100 to 125 days. A significant shift, according to him, is the introduction of strict accountability mechanisms.
"In the past, no one was held accountable for failing to provide 100 days of employment to the labourers, but under the new law, accountability would be fixed. The rights of the poor can no longer be denied," said the BJP leader.
He also claimed that the new system would help curb corruption by ensuring that the entire wage amount is transferred directly to the laborers' bank accounts, eliminating middlemen and leakages. This direct benefit transfer, the party argues, is a cornerstone of the scheme's design for transparent and efficient welfare delivery.
