MNREGA is being weakened, its power is being snatched away: CM Mamata

Bangalore: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has accused the central government of attempting to snatch away the power of villages and destroy the rural economy. He termed the abolition of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGA) and the implementation of a new law as being against the federal structure and the spirit of the Constitution.

At a press conference held at the Krishna Ministry of Home Affairs office in Bangalore on the issue of MNREGA's abolition, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that the central government has adopted an authoritarian approach by implementing the new law without consulting state governments. He alleged that this move weakens the concept of decentralization.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that the Dr. Manmohan Singh-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government had implemented people-friendly laws such as the Right to Employment, Right to Information, and Right to Education. In contrast, the current central government has abolished the MNREGA Act and implemented a new law called "Viksit Bharat Gramin Rozgar Abhiyaan Guarantee" (VBG Ramji), which is against the interests of laborers.

He pointed out that there are approximately 121.6 million MNREGA workers in the country, of which 62.1 million are women. Of these, 17% belong to the Scheduled Castes and 11% belong to the Scheduled Tribes. In Karnataka alone, 71.18 lakh workers are engaged in MNREGA, of which 36.75 lakh (51.6%) are women.

The Chief Minister said that while the old Act provided for a minimum of 100 days of employment, local work, wages adjusted for inflation, and full central subsidy, the new law restricts employment to only notified areas and reduces the duration of work to 60 days during the agricultural season.

Siddaramaiah said that the central-state subsidy ratio has been changed to 60:40, which will put a significant financial burden on the states. He termed this as being against Article 258 and 280 of the Constitution. He alleged that the violation of the powers of Gram Panchayats is a violation of both the federal system and the Constitution.

The Chief Minister said that he had written a letter to the Prime Minister on December 30, urging him not to implement the new law. He also demanded that the central government reinstate the MNREGA Act and restore the employment rights of women, Dalits, and the poor.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah warned that the new Act will increase unemployment, reduce women's participation in work, and put additional pressure on the lives of Dalits and tribals. He said that this will reduce Panchayats to mere implementing agencies, benefit contractors, and make rural life even more insecure.

Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, Ministers Priyank Kharge, K H Muniyappa, Chalavadi Swamy, Laxmi Hebbalkar, Sharan Prakash Patil, and Political Secretary Naseer Ahmed were also present at the press conference.