Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme: Govt drops Mahatma Gandhi's name from scheme, opposition uproar in LS

NEW DELHI: The Central government introduced a bill in the Lok Sabha to rechristen Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA). Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan introduced the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill in Lok Sabha today. The new name thus completely excludes the father of the nation. A protest erupted in the Lok Sabha over the omission of Mahatma Gandhi’s name from the bill. The opposition raised images and posters of Mahatma Gandhi to protest against the central government's move,

Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi protested against the bill, saying that Gandhi was a member of all families of India. Priyanka also called out BJP’s obsession with changing the names of schemes. However, Shivraj Singh Chouhan questioned the opposition’s antipathy to the name 'Ram'. Chouhan said that Mahatma Gandhi's name is in the hearts of all Indians and said that Gandhi envisioned Ram Rajya. After the bill was introduced, the opposition, led by Priyanka Gandhi, staged a walkout from the Lok Sabha.

The center claims this plan will help them achieve the goal of a developed nation by 2047. The employment guarantee scheme was implemented in 2005 when Manmohan Singh was the Prime Minister. Till now, the wages were entirely provided by the central government. Hereafter, the state will bear 40 per cent. The center will provide 90 per cent of wages for states resting in the Himalayan territory. The center will provide the entire amount for union territories without legislatures. The number of work days will be increased from 100 to 125. The center will decide the work areas. The employment will be provided in areas such as water security, basic rural infrastructure, livelihood-related infrastructure, and mitigation of the impact of natural disasters.