New Delhi Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK chief MK Stalin on Monday hit back at the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre over changing the name of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) to ‘Viksit Bharat Rojgar and Awas Yojana’ saying it is arrogantly attempting to destroy a scheme that has rescued crores of people from the clutches of poverty.
The Chief Minister issued a strong condemnation of the Union BJP government’s actions, saying that they are systematically dismantling the MGNREGS.
In a post on X in Tamil, the Chief Minister criticized the central government for its approach and said, “The Union BJP government that is sabotaging and destroying Mahatma Gandhi’s 100 Days Employment Guarantee Scheme.
Stalin said that out of spite towards the father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi, “they have removed his name and imposed a northern language name that doesn’t even enter the mouth”.
He said that for a scheme that is being implemented entirely with 100 per cent funding from the Union government, they will now allocate only 60 per cent funding.
The DMK leader said, “Above all these, our Tamil Nadu is being punished precisely because it has completely eradicated poverty in the country. Because it is a state without poverty, the benefits of this scheme will be available to the people of Tamil Nadu only to a lesser extent than what exists.”
Slamming the central government, he said, “The Union BJP government is arrogantly attempting to destroy a scheme that has rescued crores of people from the clutches of poverty and paved the way for them to live with dignity.”
He also pointed out that just as you (BJP) backed down on things like Three Farm Laws, Caste Census, the people will certainly make you back down in your attempt to sabotage MGNREGA as well.
“Therefore, I request you to abandon the VBGRAMG scheme right now so as not to face the wrath of the people,” Stalin added.
The sharp criticism came after the government decided to name the new Bill as the Viksit Bharat Guarantee For Rozgar And Ajeevika Mission (Grameen), shortened as VB G RAM G.
The MGNREGA scheme, launched by the then UPA government in 2005, guarantees 100 days of work in rural areas and has been a game-changer over the past two decades.
