Chandigarh, January 9
The General Secretary of All India Congress Committee, former Union Minister and Sirsa MP Kumari Selja said that the weakening of MGNREGA by the central government is a direct attack on the rights of the poor, workers, and rural India. She said amid claims of a “Developed India,” the ground reality is that work is being taken away from people and the guarantee of employment is being gradually eroded. Selja was speaking today with villagers and party workers in the Ratia constituency. Among those present were DCC President Jaipal Singh Lali, senior Congress leaders Arvind Sharma, Mangat Ram Lalwas, Surender Vartiya, Women’s Wing President Paramjit Kaur, Sudhir Godara and other leaders.
Selja said during the UPA government, when Dr. Manmohan Singh was the Prime Minister, a historic scheme like MGNREGA was implemented. This scheme guaranteed 100 days of assured employment to the rural poor and played a crucial role in lifting crores of people out of poverty. Even during the difficult times of the COVID pandemic and other disasters, MGNREGA proved to be the biggest support for the poor and workers. She said that the present central government has systematically weakened MGNREGA. Earlier, villagers used to get work on demand, but now the situation is such that state governments have to send proposals to the Centre, and even then there is no guarantee of work being provided. Delays in payments and budget cuts are breaking the trust of workers.
Selja said the thinking of removing Mahatma Gandhi’s name from the scheme also reflects the same mindset, whereas Mahatma Gandhi’s dream was to make villages self-reliant, and MGNREGA was a strong instrument to achieve that vision. Selja informed that to save MGNREGA and to expose the truth behind the Centre’s policies, the Congress party has decided to launch a phased agitation across all states. As part of the first phase, she will address press conferences tomorrow in Fatehabad and Sirsa, elaborating on the issue of weakening MGNREGA. Selja made it clear that the Congress will fight this battle for the rights of the poor, workers, and rural people with full strength and will democratically resist any attempt to abolish or weaken MGNREGA.
