Congress Criticises Government for Renaming Employment Scheme

NEW DELHI: The Indian National Congress party has expressed strong disapproval of the Central government's recent decision to rename the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). The Union Cabinet approved a bill to change the name of the scheme to 'Pujya Bapu Grameen Rozgar Yojna', raising concerns about the significance of Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy in the country.

Jairam Ramesh, Congress's general secretary in charge of communications, described the government as 'dhurandhar'—a term implying expertise—in renaming various initiatives rather than implementing substantial reforms. He noted that the government has previously altered the names of other programmes, such as changing the Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan to the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and the rural liquefied petroleum gas distribution scheme to Ujjwala. Ramesh remarked, 'They are experts in re-packaging and branding.'

In questioning the need for the name change, Ramesh stated, 'They hate Pandit Nehru but it seems they also hate Mahatma Gandhi. What’s wrong with the name Mahatma Gandhi? Why rename the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act to Pujya Bapu Employment Guarantee Scheme?'

According to reports from Press Trust of India, the Cabinet's decision also includes an increase in the number of guaranteed workdays from the current 100 to 125 days. This adjustment aims to enhance the employment opportunities available to rural households.

K C Venugopal, Congress's general secretary in charge of organisation, accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of trying to take credit for a scheme he previously labelled a 'monument of failure'. Venugopal claimed that the renaming serves to erase Mahatma Gandhi's influence from the national consciousness, especially in rural areas where he believed the essence of India resides. He stated in a post on X, 'It’s yet another way of erasing Mahatma Gandhi from our national psyche.'

Venugopal further alleged that the government has been neglecting MGNREGA, asserting that the renaming is merely a 'cosmetic change'. He pointed out that workers associated with the programme have been advocating for higher wages, while the government has consistently reduced funding allocations each year. Venugopal cited mounting payment arrears as evidence of a 'carefully planned strategy to engineer a slow death for the scheme'.

'But Mr Modi, rename it all you want, the people know it was Dr Manmohan Singh ji and Smt Sonia Gandhi ji who brought this transformative scheme to every village of India,' he added.

The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, enacted in 2005, is recognised as a flagship programme aimed at providing at least 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to rural households with adult members willing to undertake unskilled manual work. This initiative has been pivotal in enhancing the livelihoods of millions across India, particularly in rural communities.