Shillong, Jan 11: State Congress Party leader Manuel Badwar has expressed grave concerns over the newly enacted Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Grameen Act (VB-G-RAM-G), stating that it will have disastrous consequences for rural communities, particularly women and single mothers.
The VB-G-RAM-G replaces the MGNREG Act, which had been initiated when the Congress was in power at the Centre. The Congress and ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have been trading barbs over the replacement act for weeks now.
Speaking to Highland Post, Badwar highlighted that MGNREGA had guaranteed individuals the right to 100 days of paid labour, but the new scheme takes away this right, leaving it to the government’s discretion. In Meghalaya, 15 lakh individuals depend on MGNREGA, with 60-62 percent being women and 42 percent of families are headed by single mothers, some of whom rely on the scheme.
The budget for VB-G-RAM-G has also been curtailed compared to MGNREGA, Badwar further said, with a shortfall of 35-36 percent (Rs 92,000 crore required versus Rs 60,000 crores allocated). This will lead to reduced workdays, migration to urban areas, increased labor supply and downward pressure on wages, he feared.
Badwar warned of severe consequences, including increased school dropouts, reduced access to education and families falling into debt traps. He urged people and political parties to speak up against these critical issues.
