The Trinamool Congress strongly opposes the Centre's proposed VB-G RAM G Bill, which aims to replace MGNREGA. (File)
The Trinamool Congress on Monday came out strongly against a proposed Central government Bill that seeks to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), with party leaders saying it would be “strongly opposed”.
The Bill further proposes, for the first time, a pause in employment guarantee for “a total period aggregating to sixty days in a financial year, covering the peak agricultural seasons of sowing and harvesting”, during which no work will be undertaken. The proposed legislation is intended to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005.
State Panchayat Minister Pradip Majumder said, “It has no relevance to us. What type of financial burden are you talking about? What will we do with the name? They stopped our legitimate dues for more than three years. According to Central government data, Rs 65 crore was siphoned in Gujarat, Rs 48 crore in Uttar Pradesh and Rs 24 crore in Maharashtra. Why was Section 27 not imposed on them? What kind of impact will it have on us? They don’t even bother about West Bengal.”
The Centre recently ordered the resumption of MGNREGA in West Bengal with “immediate effect” nearly three years after suspending its implementation in the state, while imposing what it termed “special conditions and regulatory measures”.
The Union Ministry of Rural Development had issued an order on December 6 in compliance with directions of the Calcutta High Court, stating that “the Department of Rural Development hereby resumes the prospective implementation of the MGNREGA in the State of West Bengal with immediate effect.” The order was also communicated to the state government.
However, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee last week tore up a note outlining the new MGNREGA conditions at a public meeting in Cooch Behar, calling it a “valueless and insulting” diktat. She said the state would run its own employment scheme without seeking “Delhi’s charity”.
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Addressing a rally at Ras Mela Ground in the district, Banerjee said, “Day before yesterday, we received a letter stating that starting December 6, we must submit a quarterly labour budget. They (Centre) have imposed a condition. But where is the time to show it? This is December, and the election is due early next year. Then they said training has to be provided.”
TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said on the new bill, “Is the Central government trying to remove the name of Mahatma Gandhi ji completely from MGNREGA? If the name of the proposed Bill, which is to be placed in Parliament tomorrow, is correct, then this dangerous trend will be opposed strongly.”
Atri Mitra is a highly accomplished Special Correspondent for The Indian Express, bringing over 20 years of experience to his reporting. His work is characterized by deep regional knowledge and a focus on critical administrative and political developments, establishing strong Expertise and Authority in his domain.
Experience
Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express.
Decades of Experience: Over two decades of extensive reporting experience, primarily covering administration and political news.
Geographical Focus: Holds significant reporting experience from West Bengal, Bihar, and the North-East, providing a comprehensive understanding of the socio-political landscape in these regions.
Key Coverage: Has dedicated more than ten years to covering administration and political news, with a keen focus on political developments in West Bengal.
Electoral Reporting: Demonstrated a commitment to crucial political moments, having covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections during his time at Anandabazar Patrika, and the 2019 Bihar Lok Sabha election while working with News18-Bangla.
Career Foundation: Began his career at the leading vernacular daily Anandabazar Patrika, where he worked for more than fifteen years, including a three-year stint as the Bihar correspondent.
Education
Advanced Degree: Holds a Master's degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University, providing an analytical framework for his political and administrative reporting.
Undergraduate Education: Holds a Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University.
Prestigious Alumni: His educational background includes attending esteemed institutions: he is an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur.
Atri Mitra's decades of dedicated reporting, substantial focus on political and administrative beats, and solid academic credentials make him a trusted and authoritative source for news and analysis from Eastern and North-Eastern India. ... Read More
