Shillong, February 2: The Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) on Monday criticised the repeal of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), stating that the move has deprived rural citizens of a legally guaranteed right to employment.
In a press release issued by Chairman of the Social Media Department of MPCC, Mr. Lang Kupar War the MPCC observed that two decades after MGNREGA was introduced, the scheme, which once ensured employment security for rural households, has been replaced with what it described as a limited and discretionary programme under the BJP-led Union Government.
According to the party, MGNREGA played a critical role in providing wages during economic hardship, reducing migration, keeping children in schools, and enabling women to earn livelihoods within their communities. The release noted that the programme was built on the principle that the state had a responsibility to provide work when employment opportunities were scarce.
The Congress alleged that the replacement scheme, referred to as VB-GRAMG, is centrally controlled and dependent on approvals and funds, thereby removing the guarantee of employment on demand. It argued that the change undermines the security and dignity of rural workers.
The MPCC strongly condemned the decision to repeal MGNREGA and demanded the restoration of what it called a universal and legally enforceable right to work. The party also reiterated its support for rural workers, women, Adivasis, Dalits, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable communities who, it said, benefited from the programme.
