Centre undermining rural employment rights: Priyank Kharge

Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge accused the Union government of diluting the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) by introducing the VB-G RAM-G Act, which had weakened the guaranteed right to employment for rural workers.

Speaking after unfurling the national flag at the DAR police grounds in Kalaburagi on the occasion of the 77th Republic Day on Monday, Mr. Kharge said while MGNREGA ensured 100 days of guaranteed work to rural households, the new Act, despite promising 125 days of employment, had pushed workers into a contractor-driven framework, eroding the scheme’s core principles. He also criticised the Centre for shifting 40% of the financial burden on the States, calling it a blow to cooperative federalism.

Highlighting MGNREGA’s impact, he said the scheme had generated 183 crore man days of employment over the last 19 years across 77 lakh villages. In Karnataka alone, 36 crore man days had been created in 16 lakh villages, benefiting nearly 1 crore families, including about 60 lakh women. “Dismantling such a people-oriented programme amounts to playing with the livelihoods of the poor,” he said.

Mr. Kharge noted that several key legislations on employment, food security and education were introduced during Congress-led governments at the Centre, and described MGNREGA as the world’s largest social security programme aimed at promoting economic equality.

Referring to the adoption of the Constitution and bringing it to effect on January 26, 1950, he said it ensured political equality by granting every citizen the right to vote, but B.R. Ambedkar had emphasised that true development was impossible without social and economic equality.

Outlining district initiatives, Mr. Kharge said Kalaburagi would be developed as an agri-based infrastructure hub, with the establishment of two millet processing centres, cold storage units in taluk headquarters at a cost of ₹6 crore, seven micro-watershed projects, and processing, grading and packaging units for pulses and other crops to boost farmers’ income and rural employment.

He said ₹1,000 crore would be invested under the Kalyana Patha scheme for rural roads, while 157 km of roads would be upgraded under the Pragati Patha scheme. Drinking water projects would be implemented at eight locations across the district at a sum of ₹1,052 crore.

Mr. Kharge also announced a ₹300-crore comprehensive development plan for Kalaburagi city, which includes road audits, development of lakes and gardens, and conservation of water sources.

Under the plan, 43 roads would be upgraded at a cost of ₹164 crore, while 25 traffic junctions and 33 gardens would be developed at ₹36 crore.

Legislators Kaneez Fatima, Allamprabhu Patil, Jagdev Guttedar and Thippannappa Kamaknoor; Kalaburagi Urban Development Authority chairman Mazhar Khan, Deputy Commissioner Fouzia Taranum, Zilla Panchayat CEO Bhanvar Singh Meena, Police Commissioner Dr.Sharanappa S. Dhage and Superintendent of Police Adduru Srinivasulu were present.