Hyderabad: Telangana Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Minister Seethakka strongly opposed the Centre’s proposal to rename the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, accusing it of trying to weaken the programme.
Reacting to the move to rename the scheme as Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission, Seethakka alleged that the Centre acted with a clear motive. She said the proposal aimed not only to change the name but also to dilute the scheme’s spirit.
According to her, the Centre was attempting to alter the way the programme functioned. As a result, she demanded that the Union government withdraw the decision immediately.
Seethakka slams Centre over MGNREGS name change
Further, Seethakka said the decision went against Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of employment security for the rural poor. She added that the move effectively punished poor families and state governments.
Earlier, the Centre funded the scheme fully. However, it later reduced its share to 60 per cent. Consequently, states were forced to bear the remaining 40 per cent burden. She described this change as unjust.
Meanwhile, the minister warned that the decision would severely affect state finances. She said the Centre was slowly stepping away from its responsibilities under the scheme.
Moreover, Seethakka said removing Mahatma Gandhi’s name reflected the Centre’s opposition to Gandhian values. She alleged that the Modi government had opposed the scheme from the beginning. Therefore, she claimed that the Centre had gradually taken steps to weaken it.