Mahila Congress slams centre's move to replace MGNREGA

 Senior leaders of the Tripura Pradesh Mahila Congress on Tuesday criticised the Centre’s proposal to replace MGNREGA and said the move would weaken the economic rights of the rural people.

Addressing a press conference at the Pradesh Congress Bhavan in Agartala, the leaders said the new model would reduce work security and harm rural households.

They said MGNREGA earlier gave 100 days of work and ensured minimum wages. Gram Panchayats used to plan and approve the work before the scheme was replaced by the VB-G RAM-G model, the Manila Congress leaders added.

In contrast, they said the VB-G RAM-G model would not guarantee 100 days of work and the work would be allowed only in villages selected by the Centre. 

They claimed that the wage rates would be fixed by the Centre without local consultation which according to them, reduce the power of Panchayats and bring contractors into village work.

The leaders said this shift would weaken decentralisation and take away local control. 

They alleged that the move would break a strong rural safety net that supported poor families for many years.

Pradesh Mahila Congress vice president Pritha Deb said women labourers would suffer the most under the new system. She demanded restoration of all MGNREGA benefits. She also demanded a minimum wage of Rs 400 per day for job card holders.

Speaking on the Union Budget, another senior Mahila Congress leader said the budget gave no relief to common taxpayers. 

She said farmers, workers and rural households received no support. She added that agriculture, health, education and youth development were neglected. 

She also said microfinance debt continues to trouble poor women in Tripura and appealed for government intervention.

Pradesh Mahila Congress State president Sarbani Ghosh Chakraborty, Sadar District president Tanmoy Roy, State Mahila Congress vice-president Subhadra Chakraborty and Sadar District Mahila Congress general secretary Sumona Saha were present during the press conference.

Similar press conferences were held in Dharmanagar, Kailashahar, Ambassa, Teliamura, Belonia and Udaipur as part of the nationwide “MGNREGA Bachao” movement.