‘Hidden assault on MGNREGA, livelihood of poor under threat:’ KP slams Centre over VB-G RAM G

“The spirit of the Indian Constitution, laid down by Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, and other leaders of the freedom struggle, is rooted in social justice and inclusive development,” KP said, recalling: “After Independence, the Constitution-makers, after extensive deliberations, adopted parliamentary democracy as the most suitable model for a diverse country like India to ensure equal rights for all sections of society.”

KP said, “A large section of India’s population, even today, depends on agriculture and daily wage labour, as employment is seasonal and uncertain. Rural families struggle for two square meals a day due to the lack of year-round employment. Keeping this reality in mind, the UPA government had introduced MGNREGA in 2005.”

He described MGNREGA as “the only law in the world that guarantees employment as a legal right,” providing at least 100 days of work per year to every rural household. “This is not charity, it is a constitutional right of the poor.”

The Congress leader said, “Earlier, 90 per cent of the funding was borne by the Centre and 10 per cent by the states, but now the funding pattern is being altered, pushing a heavier burden on financially stressed states. This is how the scheme is being weakened from within.”

Calling the Centre’s announcement of 125 days of employment “misleading,” KP said, “When even 100 days of work are not being provided, these claims remain confined to paper. The Centre now proposes to fund only 60 per cent, while asking states to arrange the remaining 40 per cent, which is practically impossible for many states.”

The Congress leader warned that India has nearly 9 crore MGNREGA workers, while Punjab alone has around 20 lakh job card holders, most of them from extremely poor households.“If this scheme is weakened or scrapped, millions of homes will be pushed into hunger and distress.”

KP announced that the Congress would strongly oppose any attempt to dilute MGNREGA. “If needed, we will go village to village to mobilise people and defend the right to livelihood,” he said, adding that the party would fully support any step taken by the Punjab government to protect the scheme.

KP appealed to the Aam Aadmi Party-led Punjab government to firmly reject the Centre’s move in the upcoming Vidhan Sabha session, assuring that Congress would extend full support on this issue in the larger interest of the poor.