Sonia Gandhi : warns of “catastrophic fallout” and accuses the Center of destroying MGNREGA

Sonia Gandhi:  the chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP), sharply criticized the BJP-led Centre on Monday, saying that it was deliberately destroying the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and warning that its replacement would have “catastrophic consequences” for the rural population of India.

Her comments are made a few days after the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Employment and Livelihood Mission (Rural) Bill, also known as the VB-G RAM G Bill, was approved by Parliament in the face of fierce opposition.

Sonia Gandhi claimed that MGNREGA, a rights-based law enacted in 2005 under the UPA that guaranteed the constitutional right to work, was being essentially dismantled “without discussion, consultation or respect for parliamentary processes” in an article published in a prominent national daily.

“The removal of Mahatma Gandhi’s name is only the tip of the iceberg,” she said, referring to it as a sign of a “deeper structural annihilation” of the greatest social security scheme in the world.

The attempt to “throttle” MGNREGA did not start overnight, according to Sonia Gandhi. She said that over the years, the governing BJP had adopted a “death by a thousand cuts” strategy, progressively eroding the program via “stagnant budgets, delayed payments,” and what she called “disenfranchising technology,” making it less and less effective in practice.

The Congress and other opposition parties had pushed for the Bill’s removal after demanding that it be brought to a standing committee.

Despite these concerns, the Opposition MPs staged a walkout, and both Houses approved the Act. Following President Droupadi Murmu’s consent, the Bill was signed into law on Sunday.

Sonia Gandhi said that the new Act drastically alters the nature of job assistance in rural areas by substituting a “bureaucratic, discretionary program” for a statutory employment guarantee.

“Demand-driven, uncapped employment has been replaced by fixed budget caps set by the Union government,” she said, contending that this change undermines the fundamental promise of MGNREGA.

She also emphasized clauses that, in her opinion, drastically increase the states’ budget share from 10% to 40%, eliminate year-round labor, and provide up to 60 “no-work” days during the busiest agricultural season.

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The Congress leader accused the Center of over-centralization, claiming that the new framework replaces decentralized planning with a top-down approach connected to the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan while ignoring gram sabhas and panchayats.

“This is centralisation with a vengeance,” she said.

Gandhi criticized the administration for making the “misleading and unachievable” promise that the revised plan would provide up to 125 days of work.

Sonia Gandhi emphasized MGNREGA’s contribution to raising rural incomes, reducing distress migration, and enhancing local self-governance, pointing out that it was one of the few programs that helped the poorest families during the COVID-19 epidemic.

She argued, “The demolition of the right to work must not be seen in isolation,” and connected it to what she called a larger attack on laws based on rights, such as those pertaining to education, information, forest rights, and property acquisition.

“MGNREGA implemented the constitutional right to work and realized the Mahatma’s ideal of Sarvodaya, or the welfare of all. Its demise is our collective moral failing, and it will have long-term financial and personal repercussions for crores of working-class Indians. Now more than ever, we must stand together and defend the liberties that keep us all secure,” she said.

Meanwhile, the VB-G RAM G Bill has officially become law when President Murmu gave his consent. Following the ratification, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Minister for Rural Development and Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, released a comprehensive statement describing the characteristics of the “Viksit Bharat: G Ram G Act” and dispelling what he called myths about the new legislation.

According to the Union Minister, there was a conscious effort to deceive the people under the guise of MGNREGA. “Rumours are being spread, whereas the truth is that the ‘Viksit Bharat: G Ram G Yojana’ is a progressive step forward from MGNREGA,” he said.

According to Union Minister Chouhan, the new program offers a statutory guarantee of 125 days of work, which is more than the previous 100 days.

“The clause granting unemployment benefits in the event that employment is not available has also been reinforced. Additionally, there is now a provision for supplemental compensation in the event that salaries are not paid on time,” he said, claiming that the updated legislation improves accountability and coverage.