Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday criticized the Central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Vixit Bharat Mission Rozgar and Ajievika (Grameen) Act (VB-G RAM G) scheduled to be implemented on July 1, raising questions over pending dues and states’ opposition to amendments to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
“This June saw rainfall fall by 42%. Autumn plantings are down by 22.7%. More than 300 districts may be affected by drought, exacerbating the livelihood crisis in rural India. In this case, isn’t ending MGNREGA an attack on labourers, SCs, STs, STs and the poor?” He said in a post X addressed to PM Modi.
Citing the Union government’s response in Lok Sabha, Karg pointed out that as of March this year, $Dues worth Rs 17,144.13 crore under MGNREGA were outstanding for 34 states and union territories. He said that $Of this figure, Rs 7,846.25 crore includes wage liabilities, with the delay in giving “right payment” to workers being questioned.
“With effect from July 1, I have imposed a new scheme (VB-G RAM G) on the states, but the Central government is yet to release the pending MGNREGA payments! Karnataka has $700 Crores Fantastic, Jharkhand $900 crore, and states like Telangana and Tamil Nadu are yet to get the money they are owed,” the Congress leader said.
Karg further said that many states have raised questions over the structure and funding pattern of the VB-G RAM G Act, while the government is “enforcing” the scheme despite the risk of financial burden and crisis on states and farmers.
“To meet the 125-day promise, Madhya Pradesh faces the additional burden of $20,037 Crores, Bihar $15,939 Crores. Is the central government trying to push the states into a financial crisis just to implement its plan? He said.
Read also: VB-G Ram G introduces a new daily wage system for people with disabilities, women and the elderly
He said that according to RTI data, states ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have called for a review of the funding pattern of the law due to concerns about “severe financial stress”.
“When the BJP demands Madhya Pradesh and Bihar, along with Jharkhand, to review the funding pattern due to severe fiscal pressures, why is the central government sticking to its stand?” He said he left.
Karg also said several states “strongly opposed” the new law’s “blackout” provision that shuts down work for 60 days during the “most critical” agricultural season.
“Why does the central government impose this anti-labor system on farmers and rural workers?” He wondered further.
Karg also alleged that “at least” 5 states have demanded higher wages under the new law while the Union government has been “reluctant” to provide workers with decent wages.
He added that Bihar is seeking to raise wages from it $255 L $413 Jammu and Kashmir sought an increase from $272 l $311.
The Congress Party has been demanding $He added: 400 daily wages from the first day.
