Chandigarh, January 21
Strongly condemning the weakening of the MANREGA Act by the Central Government, leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party stated that this new anti-labour policy of the BJP is a direct injustice to poor workers. Cabinet Minister Mohinder Bhagat (Defence Services Welfare, Freedom Fighters and Horticulture) said that weakening the MANREGA Act by the Central Government is equivalent to snatching bread from the mouths of poor workers of the country.
Pawan Kumar Tinu, Chairman, Punjab State Cooperative Agriculture Bank, strongly criticised the changes being made to MANREGA by the BJP-led Central Government and said that this new anti-worker policy is a well-planned conspiracy. He stated that the BJP government has renamed MANREGA as “V-B-G Ram-Ji Act” and that the decisions being taken under this new name are extremely dangerous. He further said that continuous cuts in the MANREGA budget are destroying the rural economy.
Tinu informed that earlier 100 per cent of the MANREGA budget was provided by the Central Government, but it has now been divided in a 60:40 ratio. Now 60 per cent will be given by the Centre and 40 per cent by the State Governments. On this, Cabinet Minister Mohinder Bhagat questioned that when the States’ GST already goes to the Central Government, from where will the States arrange this 40 percent share?
AAP leaders alleged that since the formation of the BJP Government, Punjab has been subjected to discriminatory treatment. Not only have Punjab’s rightful funds been withheld by the Central Government, but deliberate obstacles are also being created in the State’s development works. They said that the Central Government’s tall promises regarding employment for youth, women empowerment, and promotion of industries have not been fulfilled till date.
