Bengaluru, Feb. 4 - The Karnataka Legislative Assembly yesterday unanimously adopted a resolution, presented by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, urging the Central Government to immediately repeal the ‘Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) — VB-G Ram G — Act and reinstate the ‘Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)’ in its original form.
The resolution described the repeal of MGNREGA, a flagship scheme providing assured employment and rural livelihood security, as a matter of serious concern. It said, the new VB-G Ram G Act, implemented unilaterally by the Centre, undermines the federal structure and deprives rural communities of their livelihood rights.
The House noted that under MGNREGA, the Central Government bore 100 percent of the wage cost for 100 man days of employment, ensuring financial security for rural poor families. The new Act, however, requires State Governments to bear 40 percent of the cost, placing a heavy burden on State finances.
The Assembly observed that this violates Constitutional provisions and dilutes the powers and autonomy granted to Gram Panchayats under the 73rd Amendment.
The resolution also highlighted that MGNREGA had facilitated the creation of essential local assets such as roads, wells, school compounds, toilets, irrigation facilities and Panchayat buildings, while the new Act’s linkage with the PM Gati Shakti Scheme channels resources toward Highways and major road projects, indirectly benefiting contractors and corporates.
The Assembly said that the new Act provides employment for only ten months instead of twelve, offers no guarantee of wage rates and limits the inclusion of Gram Panchayats, depriving vulnerable rural labourers, particularly women, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other marginalised communities, of their rights.
The Karnataka Legislative Assembly urged the Centre to restore MGNREGA in its original form to ensure rural employment, asset creation and self-reliance of the poor. It also decided to send the resolution to the Central Government and the President of India.
