CPI (M) criticises BJP Govt for giving “cruel burial” to MGNREGA

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Central Government of “cruelly burying” the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNERGA), claiming that the new employment scheme dilutes the rights-based framework.

The party termed the Guarantee for Viksit Bharat – Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB–G RAM G) a “big gimmick”.

CPI(M) general secretary MA Baby said: “While they (BJP Government) claim that guaranteed working days have been increased from 100 days to 125 days, the new Act will be implemented only in places notified by the Central Government.” He also stated that the scheme requires a financial contribution of 40% from State Governments.

He recalled the prolonged interference of the Left parties in the then Central Government, which enacted MGNREGA as a “right-based” programme. The then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram and Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia were against MGNREGA, but the Center implemented the law thereafter. [former president of Congres] Sonia Gandhi’s intervention at the insistence of the Left. “VB-GRAM is no longer a rights-based program,” he said.

Mr. Baby also expressed concern over the moves of the BJP Government to follow US orders in compromising the interests of the country. Agriculture and other sectors will suffer due to the recently signed trade agreements with the USA, and other sectors will be gradually included in the trade agreements.

He raised strong objections to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s claim that the country has reached a strong position. “Trump (US President Donald Trump) is banning us from buying crude oil from several countries. Can Mr. Modi stand up and tell us where to buy crude oil?” he asked.

Lamenting that market forces were operating in the Government’s decision making and watering down its control, he cited the petroleum prices as an example for this. “The country’s sovereignty is subject to systematic attack. The country’s reputation has never fallen to this level,” he said.

The CPI (M) has decided to hold a Chalo Delhi march next month, tentatively on March 24, to protest the government’s “anti-people and anti-poor” measures such as the Seed Bill, Power sector reforms, Education Bill and Labor Bills aimed at centralizing the sector.