Hyderabad: BRS leader and former MP Boinapalli Vinod Kumar on Friday criticised the removal of Mahatma Gandhi’s name from the national employment guarantee scheme. He said altering the identity of the employment guarantee programme was inappropriate and weakened its original intent.
Speaking on the issue, Vinod Kumar recalled that the Employment Guarantee Act, passed in 2005, transformed rural livelihoods. According to him, the law created large-scale work opportunities and strengthened income security in villages. However, he said the government was now changing the framework under the pretext of reform.
He alleged that the existing law was being replaced with a new model referred to as “VBG Ramji.” As a result, he said, the spirit of the employment guarantee legislation stood diluted, and its social purpose weakened.
Funding changes in the employment guarantee scheme draw BRS criticism
Earlier, the Centre contributed 90 per cent of the funds while states bore 10 per cent, Vinod Kumar said. Now, he pointed out, the Centre reduced its share to 60 per cent and increased the states’ burden to 40 per cent. He described this shift as unfortunate and harmful.
Vinod Kumar recalled that Parliament approved the law after long struggles to recognise the right to work as a basic right. At that time, he said, all political parties supported the employment guarantee legislation due to its importance.
Now, he alleged, the Narendra Modi government was weakening that right through policy changes. Moreover, he criticised the condition that the Centre would release funds only after states deposited their share, calling it impractical.
According to Vinod Kumar, several northern and northeastern states lacked the financial strength to contribute 40 per cent. Therefore, he warned, poverty levels could rise further in those regions.
Meanwhile, he criticised claims that southern states failed to implement central schemes properly. Instead, he said, such allegations shifted responsibility away from the Centre. He also warned that the government could eventually weaken and scrap the employment guarantee scheme.
Vinod Kumar said that nearly 8.9 crore people held job cards and depended on work generated through the employment guarantee scheme. Consequently, he warned that scrapping the scheme would cause severe hardship to rural households.