A delegation from the Karnataka Congress, led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and other key leaders, met Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot to request the reinstatement of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). The party is opposing the introduction of the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) scheme. Siddaramaiah emphasized that the Congress is against the central government’s policies and will continue its protest until the VB-G RAM G scheme is withdrawn and MGNREGA is fully restored.
Speaking at a protest organized by the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), Siddaramaiah criticized the BJP for replacing MGNREGA with the VB-G RAM G scheme, which was implemented in 2005 during Manmohan Singh’s tenure. He highlighted that various people-centric laws, including the Right to Food and Right to Work, were introduced by Congress governments to support marginalized communities. Siddaramaiah expressed concerns that the new law shifts decision-making power from local bodies to Delhi, impacting rural employment opportunities.
Siddaramaiah stressed that MGNREGA provided essential employment opportunities for women, Dalits, backward classes, minorities, and small farmers throughout the year. He criticized the funding changes under the new law, where states are now required to bear 40% of the costs, affecting the program’s effectiveness. The Chief Minister called for nationwide support to oppose these policies and restore MGNREGA, highlighting the need to protect the rights of the poor and combat inequality perpetuated by the new legislation.
