PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Haldwani
Congress MLA of Haldwani, Sumit Hridayesh said that changing the name of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) amounts to denting the honour accorded to MK Gandhi, adding that the changes will actually increase migration from the mountains. Addressing the media here on Thursday, he said that MNREGA is not just a scheme but a lifeline for the poor, labourers and villagers in the nation and tampering with its basic form is “anti-public”.
Hridayesh said that the Central government’s intention to reduce the number of job days from 100 a year to 60 is a direct assault on the legal rights of the poor. This will increase unemployment and economic insecurity among the villagers, he opined. The MLA said, “Earlier, works under MNREGA used to be recommended by the Gram Pradhan and Gram Sabha, which used to facilitate employment according to the local requirements. The Central government has now discontinued this system and is planning to operate works under this programme from Delhi. This is not just an attempt to weaken the Panchayati Raj system but will also dent the rural self-reliance,” he said.
Hridayesh alleged that this change is a conspiracy to empty the mountains, adding that this scheme is becoming one which will speed up the migration from mountainous areas. Changing the Central-State ratio in this scheme from 90:10 to 60:40 will put unnecessary financial burden on the State. This will make it difficult for State governments to effectively implement this scheme, which will directly affect the poor, he said. Challenging the Bharatiya Janata Party to an open debate, the Congress leader said that the party is fully prepared to debate on MNREGA and every public welfare issue based on facts.
