Karnataka’s Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on February 23 urged the Centre to abolish the newly-enacted Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevik Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act, and re-implement the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
Asking the Centre to re-establish the right to employment and right to self-governance for gram panchayats, the Chief Minister said that the Centre should declare a uniform minimum wage of ₹400 per day for rural employment. The demand by the Chief Minister came at the MGNREGA Bachao Andolon organized by the Congress at Chikkaballapur, near Bengaluru, on February 23. “Until the demands are met, our andolan will not stop. It will continue like the protest of the farmers, who fought against the three farm laws (introduced by the BJP government),” he added.
Appealing to people to participate in the andolan, Mr. Siddaramaiah said 12.16 crore workers were receiving employment under MGNREGA of which 53% were women, 17% scheduled castes, and 11% scheduled tribes. “The Centre has snatched away the right of employment of workers. Now, contractors, who were not in MGNREGA, are indirectly part of VB -G RAM G, panchayats have lost autonomy to decide on work to be undertaken, and employment will not be available throughout the year. The Narendra Modi government has been weakening welfare legislations implemented by UPA government, and has completely scrapped MGNREGA.”
