Scrap VB- G RAM G, restore MGNREGA, says Siddaramaiah
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday demanded that the Centre abolish the VB–GRAMG scheme and restore the MGNREGA saying the "repeal" had taken away the constitutional right to work of Dalits, tribals, women, small farmers and rural labourers, besides undermining the powers of elected panchayats.
Moving a resolution in the Karnataka Assembly, the Chief Minister said, "Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act must be restored along with people's right to employment, panchayat autonomy under the 73rd Constitutional Amendment and a minimum wage of Rs 400," and sought that a copy of the resolution be sent to the Centre.
He said the latest rural employment scheme VB–G RAM G should be scrapped in its entirety, arguing that it would lead to increased unemployment, reduced participation of women and greater pressure on Dalit and tribal families.
"When an important law was repealed and a new one was introduced, everyone's view was important. MGNREGA was repealed and VB–GRAMG was introduced without discussing with the states," Siddaramaiah alleged.
He pointed out that under MGNREGA. 12.16 crore people in rural areas were getting 100 days' job. If someone applied for a job, then he or she was given it. If not a job, then at least money was given under the previous employment guarantee scheme.
He further said women constituted 53.61 per cent of the workforce under MGNREGA, while 28 per cent belonged to SC/ST communities.
He warned that these sections are now rendered jobless.
According to Siddaramaiah, MGNREGA was a demand-based guarantee that prevented distress migration, unlike VB–GRAMG, under which the Centre would decide the nature of work, notify villages and release funds, leaving gram panchayats with no role.
Slamming the BJP MLAs who were objecting to his explanation, he said, "study VB–GRAMG first and then come for debate. You have passed the Act and you don't read it..(it) is unfair."
Siddaramaiah pointed out that Karnataka had 71.18 lakh rural labourers, more than 51 per cent of them women, and alleged that new restrictions would halt work during agricultural seasons for 60 days.
He said contractors, who were banned under MGNREGA, had now been allowed to take up large works, while wage parity and year-round employment were no longer guaranteed.
He also objected to the Centre sharing only 60 per cent of wage costs, with states bearing 40 per cent, at a time when the latter were facing fund crunch.
He said successive BJP chief ministers, including B S Yediyurappa and Basavaraj Bommai, had earlier praised MGNREGA, noting that 31.14 lakh families and 59.13 lakh individuals had benefited in a year, creating 13.24 crore person-days of work with Rs 3,769 crore paid as wages.
"After lauding it, this Act was abolished," he said, alleging that villagers had begun migrating again in search of work.
When BJP MLAs objected and sought elaboration, the CM asked the Speaker U T Khader to act against members disrupting his speech under Rule 347, remarking, "we too know how to do satire and create disturbance during your speech."
He described V B–GRAM G as "deadly for villages," adding, "I forget its full form because it is far from rural life."
Responding to an intervention by BJP MLA V Sunil Kumar that the Centre had given six months' time for implementation, Siddaramaiah said Presidential assent had already been granted and the law notified without consulting states.
He alleged the scheme was inspired by "Manusmriti," claiming it was not intended to financially empower women, Dalits, tribals and small farmers, and accused the RSS of guiding the BJP.
Reiterating his demands, Siddaramaiah said MGNREGA must be restored, VB–G RAM G abolished, panchayat rights returned and the cost-sharing formula scrapped, asserting that repealing MGNREGA amounted to insulting Mahatma Gandhi and taking away the rights of the rural poor.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Annamalai steps-down as election in-charge, is he contesting TN assembly polls ? Details here
Chennai: Former Tamil Nadu BJP Chief K. Annamalai has announced his decision to step-down as the party’s election-incharge, days after his appointment. The announcement came as a surprise to his own party men, reported The Week.
This comes at a time when the BJP in alliance with the AIADMK is aiming to field its candidates from maximum number of seats.
Annamalai said he resigned from the responsibility due to personal reasons. Speaking to reporters in Coimbatore, he said, “I have informed the High Command that I will not be able to carry out these duties. My father is unwell and I need to be with him. That is my first priority. I cannot travel much and will be spending more time in Coimbatore.”
However, according to party sources quoted by The Week, there may be more to the decision. Annamalai is said to be upset with the current BJP leadership for limiting his role to just six Assembly constituencies and for expecting him to work under the AIADMK leadership. Sources also say he has felt sidelined since Nainar Nagendran took over as the Tamil Nadu BJP president.
As per reports, Annamalai was kept out of key alliance discussions with the AIADMK and was later brought in only to help bring TTV Dhinakaran’s AMMK into the NDA. He had been tasked by the central leadership in December to speak to Dhinakaran. After the alliance talks were finalised, sources claim Annamalai felt ignored by both the state and central leadership.
Sources cited by The Week also point out that despite touring the entire state during the En Mann, En Makkal yatra ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and helping improve the BJP’s vote share, Annamalai’s presence in state party events has reduced sharply over the past six months. Also he was upset with the state leadership having a soft approach towards the AIADMK.
Reports suggest that he largely stayed away from state-level programmes but attended events when Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Home Minister Amit Shah visited Tamil Nadu.
Annamalai was appointed election in-charge for six Assembly constituencies, namely Karaikudi, Srivaikuntam, Virugambakkam, Singanallur, Madurai (South) and Padmanabapuram. These seats are spread across different regions of the state, with no geographical link. Party insiders say he was upset about being limited to these segments, especially after taking on both the DMK and the AIADMK during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Quoting a senior BJP leader, The Week reports, “He played a key role in strengthening the BJP in Tamil Nadu. Restricting him to six seats is unfair.”
Annamalai was expected to campaign across the state for the NDA. However, sources say that if his relationship with AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami does not improve and if the BJP leadership continues to sideline him, he may limit his campaigning to AMMK candidates.
On whether he will contest the upcoming Assembly elections, Annamalai remained non-committal. Responding to a question from the media, he said, “I will discuss the matter with the party leadership before taking any decision.”
