MGNREGA Row: Shivraj Singh Chouhan Calls Congress Protest ‘Purely Political’
File photo: PIB via PTI
Amid the Congress Working Committee’s meeting to launch a nationwide campaign against the replacement of MGNREGA, Union Minister for Rural Development and Agriculture Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday dismissed the Opposition’s criticism as “purely political,” defending the NDA government’s new rural employment law, the Viksit Bharat G-Ram-G Act.
Context: Congress Steps Up Opposition
The Congress has accused the Centre of weakening the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), a flagship welfare programme introduced by the UPA government in 2006. The party has announced protests across the country, alleging that the new legislation shifts the financial burden onto States and dilutes workers’ rights.
Responding on social media platform X, Chouhan issued a detailed note explaining why the government believes the new framework is stronger and more effective than MGNREGA.
Chouhan’s Political Attack on Congress
The BJP leader accused the Congress of opportunism, claiming the party lacked both intent and consistent policy during its years in power.
He alleged that successive Congress governments reduced MGNREGA allocations, froze wage revisions, and used Mahatma Gandhi’s name for electoral advantage. According to Chouhan, the current protests amount to “crocodile tears” rather than genuine concern for rural workers.
Key Provisions of the New Law
Outlining the features of the Viksit Bharat G-Ram-G Act, Chouhan said rural employment has not been curtailed but expanded. He claimed the guaranteed number of employment days has been raised from 100 to 125.
The law also includes provisions for unemployment allowance if work is not provided within the stipulated period and compensation for delayed wage payments. Chouhan said these safeguards strengthen accountability and protect workers’ interests.
Focus on Local Governance and Inclusion
Chouhan stressed that gram sabhas and panchayats have been given greater authority to identify and prioritise projects, with responsibility for implementation, monitoring, and quality assurance placed at the local level.
Mandatory social audits, he said, ensure transparency in expenditure and payments. The scheme also emphasises the participation of women, self-help groups, and local communities.
He added that the most backward panchayats would receive additional funds and support, arguing that the law recognises differing local needs rather than applying a uniform model.
Unanswered Opposition Concerns
However, the minister did not address the Opposition’s central concern regarding the financial structure of the scheme. Critics argue that a larger share of funding responsibility now rests with States, potentially straining their finances and affecting implementation.
Conclusion
As political battle lines harden over rural employment, the debate around MGNREGA’s replacement has become a key flashpoint between the ruling NDA and the Opposition. While the government insists the new law strengthens guarantees, the Congress maintains that it weakens the Centre’s commitment to rural welfare.
Final Thoughts from TheTrendingPeople
The dispute over MGNREGA’s replacement highlights a deeper political divide over welfare, federal responsibility, and rural development. Whether the new law delivers stronger guarantees or shifts burdens to States will ultimately be judged by its on-ground impact, not political rhetoric.