Hyderabad: Nagar Kurnool MP Mallu Ravi criticised the Union government for introducing a new rural employment guarantee bill and removing Mahatma Gandhi’s name from the scheme. He said the changes diluted the programme and created uncertainty for rural workers.
Addressing the media in New Delhi, Mallu Ravi said the bill did not clearly specify the number of guaranteed workdays. He also said the new framework created confusion over budget allocations and lacked transparency.
Earlier, the Centre provided 90 per cent funding while states contributed 10 per cent, he said. Under the new rural employment guarantee bill, the Centre cut its share to 60 per cent, according to him. He said this shift weakened the scheme’s financial base.
Funding changes in the rural employment guarantee bill are opposed by Congress
Mallu Ravi said the reduction in central funding would directly hurt employment guarantee workers. According to him, states would face additional financial pressure due to the revised sharing pattern. He said the Congress party strongly opposed the bill, citing its impact on rural livelihoods.
He also said Congress opposed the Shanti Bill, the Insurance Amendment Bill, and several other important bills introduced in Parliament. The party viewed these bills as contrary to public opinion and public interest, he added.
Mahabubabad MP Porika Balaram Naik criticised the rural employment guarantee bill as well. He said the new provisions would cause serious losses to employment guarantee workers and weaken income security.
During the press meet, the MPs raised concerns over the demolition of a structure linked to the Hathiram Mutt on the Tirumala hill. They said they requested Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to stop the demolition.
They said they tried to submit a joint complaint but could not meet the Chief Minister. As a result, they handed over a copy at his office. Despite this, they said, demolition activity resumed.
The MPs demanded immediate steps to halt the demolition. They also said that during Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s tenure, the government appointed a person from the Banjara community to the TTD board. According to them, the present government denied that representation.
They demanded that a person from the Banjara community from Andhra Pradesh be given a position on the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams board. MP Ramasahayam Raghurami Reddy also attended the press meet.