The legislatures in Karnataka and Kerala have passed resolutions opposing the Union government’s decision to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act with the VB-G RAM G Act, The Hindu reported.
The Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill was given assent by the president on December 21, two days after it was passed by Parliament amid protests by Opposition parties.
The new rural employment law replaces the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, which was introduced in 2005 by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance. The scheme aimed to enhance the livelihood security of households in rural areas and guaranteed 100 days of unskilled work annually for every rural household that wants it, covering all districts in the country.
The resolution in Karnataka was passed on Wednesday even as members of the Bharatiya Janata Party and Janata Dal (Secular) staged a walkout from the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council, The Hindu reported.
On Tuesday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah tabled the resolution opposing the VB-G RAM G. However, BJP and JD(S) MLAs staged an overnight protest demanding the resignation of state Excise Minister RB Timmapur amid allegations of corruption. The protests continued on Wednesday.
The Legislative Council unanimously passed the resolution late on Wednesday, with no Opposition members present.
After the resolution was passed, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said that although the Opposition had several opportunities to discuss the VB-G RAM G Act and defend it, it failed to do so, The Hindu reported.
Earlier in the day, state Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge had contended that the new law was “anti-federal” as it increased the expenditure of the state governments without consulting them. He was quoted as saying by the newspaper that this amounted to “economic terrorism”.
Under the new law, the states’ share of costs has risen to 40%, while the number of guaranteed workdays has been increased to 125. The Union government continues to bear the wage component, with states sharing material and administrative expenses.
The law has drawn criticism from economists and labour rights experts.
On Wednesday, Kharge said that even the BJP’s allies such as Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu have voiced concerns about state governments’ share being increased to 40% from 10%.
The Congress leader said that the funds allocated for the scheme in the Union Budget on Sunday was not in line with the government’s claims.
“To give 125 days of work to all those registered at a minimum wage of Rs 375, we need Rs 3.83 lakh crore, of which 60% was Rs 2.3 lakh crore,” Kharge said, according to The Hindu. “But the Union Budget had only earmarked Rs 95,000 crore this year.”
State Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil said that the new job types listed did not encompass several job types essential for rural infrastructure that had been listed under the MGNREGA, The New Indian Express reported.
However, MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, who had been expelled by the BJP in March, said that the VB-G RAM G Act had been enacted due to the “misuse of job cards” under MGNREGA. He urged the Centre to change the funding ratio from 60:40 to 75:25 to implement the scheme effectively.
Yatnal urged Siddaramaiah not to enter into a conflict with the Union government as it would harm the state’s development, The New Indian Express reported. He asked the chief minister to withdraw the resolution against the VB-G RAM G Act.
The resolution passed by the Kerala Assembly on Thursday also said that the new act “entails severe financial burden on the states”.
“With its introduction, the rights-based approach that was the essence of the existing scheme has vanished,” said the resolution.
It said that the new financial structure would mean an additional burden of Rs 3,500 crore on the Kerala government.
The resolution was passed despite protests by the Opposition over the Sabarimala gold irregularities case, The Hindu reported.
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