Telangana Assembly adopts resolution for restoration of MGNREG Act

The Telangana Legislative Assembly on Friday adopted a resolution unopposed demanding that the Centre implement the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act as it is by withdrawing the recent law that replaced MGNREGA — the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) - VB G RAM G.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy moved the resolution and said 90% of the beneficiaries under the MRNREG Scheme were from SC, ST and BC communities, and 62% of them comprised women. The scheme provided wage work on demand as a right since its launch at Bandameedipalle village of Anantapur district in then combined Andhra Pradesh in 2005. It also provided much relief to the wage work seekers in Mahabubnagar and Medak districts. He said the new Act tramples upon the poor people’s right to wage work and is against their rights. Further, it dilutes the spirit of NREGS and is against the provision of wage work on demand and weighs against women workers. Demanding restoration of the old scheme, the Chief Minister said the new Act was also against the federal spirit in the matter of contribution of funds, as it mandates 40% funding by the State as against 100% wage component provision by the Centre in the old Act.

Seeking restoration of Mahatma Gandhi’s name to the scheme, he said a 60-day break to the scheme during peak farm season be removed as it would lead to exploitation of wage seekers and all the 266 types of works be continued.

Except those from the Opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) who boycotted the session, members of the ruling Congress, CPI, MIM and BJP spoke on the short discussion on the issue earlier. Deputy Chief Minister M. Bhatti Vikramarka and Minister for Rural Development D. Seethakka decried the new Act and said it was aimed at helping the corporate companies get cheap labour.

Members of the Congress, MIM and CPI — Ch. Vijayaramana Rao, M. Samuel, V. Bhojju, Y. Srinivas Reddy, Mir Zulfeqar Ali and K. Sambasiva Rao opposed the new Act, while A. Mahesgwar Reddy of the BJP supported the new Act.