Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge claims VB-G RAM G act undermines MGNREGA’s rights-based framework

By centralising powers and curbing local planning and decentralised governance, the act would weaken the 73rd Constitutional Amendment, which grants constitutional status to Panchayati Raj Institutions, Kharge warned.According to him, such centralisation would erode the role of local bodies that are critical to the effective implementation of MGNREGA on the ground.Questioning the Union government’s rationale, the Karnataka minister asked how the legislation could be termed a reform when it failed to meaningfully strengthen the scheme for rural workers who depend on it for livelihood security.He maintained that reducing a legal right to work into what he described as a ‘token centrally sponsored scheme’, would defeat the very purpose of MGNREGA.Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday slammed the Centre for doing away with MGNREGA.Kharge alleged that Modi is purposely destroying that Act as he wants to make poor villagers and farm labourers slaves of rich people.”Therefore, we fought for the retention of the original MGNREGA and whatever provisions are there (in the original Act) should be retained. I condemn the new Act. It is only helping the government,” the Congress chief said.The parliament, on December 18, passed the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G Bill) and President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday gave her assent to the bill and made it an act.This act replaces the 20-year-old Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and guarantees 125 days of rural wage employment every year.



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