Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, along with his Cabinet members, protested near Mahatma Gandhi’s statue at the Ridge in Shimla against the Central government’s decision to discontinue the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) scheme. The Chief Minister criticized the move as “anti-rural” and harmful to the livelihood security of rural families in the state. He emphasized the importance of MNREGA in providing rural employment and fostering inclusive growth, highlighting its grassroots planning approach.
Under the previous framework, MNREGA projects were planned and executed based on local priorities by Gram Panchayats and Gram Sabhas. However, the new mechanism centralizes planning authority and allocates funds directly from the Centre, with projects designated for specific areas. The Chief Minister announced plans for protests at district and block levels across Himachal Pradesh to oppose the decision, citing its adverse impact on the state.
Himachal Pradesh is expected to be significantly affected by the changes in MNREGA implementation, as the state previously supplemented wages by providing an additional Rs 80 per day to workers. With the revised arrangement shifting more financial responsibility to the state, the Chief Minister stressed the need for MNREGA to align with local demands and development requirements. He also expressed concerns about the discontinuation of salaries for officers and employees in Zila Parishads under MNREGA, which could hinder the scheme’s effective operation.
