[Sonia Gandhi] : Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 ie MNREGA is a living example of a revolutionary and rational change. This is an indicator of revolutionary change because this law has given work and financial strength to the hands of the poorest of the poor. MNREGA money reaches directly into the hands of those who need it most. MGNREGA has proved useful in six years of anti-ideology central government and even before that.
Ultimately, the Modi government had to accept the benefits and significance of MNREGA
The Modi government criticized it, tried to weaken it, but in the end it had to accept the benefits and significance of MNREGA. Along with the public distribution system set up by the Congress government, the MNREGA is extremely effective in protecting the poorest and most vulnerable citizens from hunger and poverty. This is even more relevant, especially in the crisis of the Corona epidemic.
MNREGA law is the result of demands raised by a long mass movement
The MNREGA law is the result of a long mass movement and demands raised by civil society. The Congress heard and implemented this voice of the public. This became the resolution of our 2004 election manifesto. Everyone who is putting more and more pressure for the implementation of this scheme is proud that the UPA government has implemented it.
MNREGA aims to eradicate poverty
The essence of it is that anyone living in villages now has the legal right to ask for work. It will be guaranteed by the government for at least one hundred days of work with minimum wages. Its usefulness was also proved very soon. This is a grassroots work program, unprecedented in itself. Its purpose is to eradicate poverty. In the 15 years since the inception of MNREGA, the scheme has brought millions of people out of the vicious cycle of hunger and poverty.
Turning off MNREGA is not practical
Mahatma Gandhi had said, “When criticism fails to suppress a movement, it begins to gain acceptance and respect.” There is no better example than MNREGA to prove his point. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also understood that the closure of MNREGA is not practical. However, he attacked the Congress using offensive language and even called the plan ‘a living monument to the failure of Congress’.
Modi government tried its best to make MNREGA hollow
In the past years, the Modi government tried its best to dismantle and hollow out the MNREGA, but was forced to retreat due to heavy pressure from the MNREGA vigilantes, the court and the opposition parties. After this, the Center tried to change its form by linking MNREGA with programs like Swachh Bharat and PM Awas Yojana, which was called reform, but it was only an attempt to change the name of Congress plans. Payment to MGNREGA workers was delayed and they were denied work.
Corona and economic crisis made Modi government realize reality
The Corona and the economic crisis that has arisen have made the Modi government realize the reality. The economy, already facing unprecedented economic crisis and recession, made the government realize that there was no option but to restart the UPA government’s flagship rural relief programs. The work speaks for itself. Whether it is too late, the recent announcement by the Finance Minister to increase the total budget of MNREGA to more than one lakh crore rupees has proved this. In May 2020 alone, 2.19 crore families demanded work under this law, the highest in eight years.
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Changed the nature of Panchayati Raj Institutions
The Modi government, compelled to accept the programs of the Congress on its own, is still in a ditch to find loopholes, but the country knows how this world’s largest mass movement not only drove millions of Indians out of the cycle of poverty, but the Panchayati Changed the nature of state institutions, helped mitigate the effects of climate change and revived the rural economy. It gave direction to a new social change by ensuring equal pay for all, empowering women, Dalits, tribals and weaker sections. This gave them the strength to get organized and gave them respect and self-respectful life. It is very important to know these facts to empower India in the current crisis situation.
Today frustrated workers are returning to their villages from different cities
Today, frustrated laborers are returning to their villages from different cities. They have neither employment nor a secure future. When clouds of unprecedented crisis loom, the need and importance of MNREGA increases more than ever. To regain the trust of these working people, relief work should be focused on them. The first task is to issue them the MNREGA job card.
The main role of implementing MNREGA should be given to the panchayats.
The Panchayati Raj system which Rajiv Gandhi struggled to strengthen through his special efforts, today the main role of implementing MNREGA should be given to the same panchayats as it is not a centralized program. Gram sabha should decide what kind of work to do, because only the local elected representatives know very well where to spend the budget according to the needs of the village and the local economy. Workers’ skills should be used to build sustainable structures that improve agricultural productivity, increase rural income and protect the environment.
In times of crisis, the central government should directly transfer money into the hands of the people.
At this time of crisis, the central government should send money directly into the hands of the people and pay all the arrears, unemployment allowance and payment of labor. The Modi government has ignored demands to increase the number of workdays to 200 under the MNREGA and to allow registration at the workplace itself. Open-ended funding should be ensured under MNREGA, as it used to be.
This is the time to face the Corona crisis prevailing over the country, not politics
Reluctantly, the Modi government has understood the importance of this program. This is the time to face the crisis in the country and not to do politics. This is not the time for BJP vs Congress. To help the people of the country.
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