Chief Minister Mann angry over Centre’s VB-G RAM G scheme, calls changes in MNREGA an attack on the poor

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday reacted strongly to the decision of the Central Government to change the MNREGA scheme to VB-G RAM G. Terming it an attack on the livelihood of the poor, Bhagwant Mann said that the BJP government has tried to destroy the basic spirit of the scheme along with removing the name of Mahatma Gandhi.

Chief Minister Mann announced

Chief Minister Mann announced that a special session of the Punjab Assembly will be called in the second week of January, in which the voice of Punjabis will be raised on this issue. This decision was taken after the meeting of top leaders of Aam Aadmi Party including national convenor Arvind Kejriwal.

Bhagwant Mann said in the press conference that the central government is busy changing the names of cities and railway stations, while important schemes for the poor and rural laborers are being ignored. He said that changing the name does not help – workers should get wages on time and proper benefits.

The Lok Sabha on Thursday passed the VB-G RAM G bill amid opposition protests after a 14-hour debate. Under the new law, rural families will be guaranteed employment for 125 days every year, whereas earlier it was 100 days. The opposition alleges that this change is only on paper. Now states will have to share 40% in the expenditure, which can become a challenge for states with limited resources like Punjab.

What did AAP spokesperson Neel Garg say?

AAP spokesperson Neel Garg termed the bill as a “planned fraud”. He says that the Modi government is weakening the welfare of the poor and taking political advantage by changing the names of the schemes. Several changes have been made in the new bill: normative funding, mandatory 60 day “no work period”, employment only in notified sectors and provision of unemployment allowance within 15 days. Experts believe that these changes can change the scheme from rights based to discretionary.

Labor unions and various organizations have started protests in Punjab. Effigies of the central government were burnt in Bathinda, Moga, Muktsar, Faridkot and Sangrur. Opposition parties also opposed the bill in Parliament.

MNREGA scheme was established in 2005

The MNREGA scheme was established in 2005 and has guaranteed employment to crores of rural families in the last 20 years. According to the Punjab government, in the special session a demand will be made from the Center to withdraw the bill or address the concerns of the states. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said that changing the name is not important, but ensuring the workers their rights and guarantee of employment should be the priority.