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👉 Check Today's Deals on Amazon IndiaShivraj Singh Chouhan Critiques Congress’s Campaign
NEW DELHI: A day after the Congress party announced the launch of a nationwide ‘MGNREGA Bachao Sangram’ campaign scheduled from January 8 to February 25, rural development minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan accused the opposition of engaging in a ‘Bhrashtachaar Bachao Sangram’. He claimed that Congress is misinforming the public regarding the Viksit Bharat- Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act.
Allegations of Corruption in MGNREGA
During a press conference in New Delhi, Chouhan alleged widespread corruption within the MGNREGA program. He emphasized that the ‘VB-G RAM G’ scheme is already surpassing MGNREGA in effectiveness. “MGNREGA has lost its integrity as a reliable source of employment,” he noted, referencing over 1.091 million complaints discovered through social audits in gram sabhas.
Concerns About Labor Practices
Chouhan pointed out troubling labor practices, claiming contractors often use falsehoods concerning laborer employment. He highlighted the issue of funds being withdrawn under the pretense of machine-based tasks while the same projects are repeatedly marked as ‘new’ over the years. Furthermore, he revealed that around 30% of the workforce is over 60 years old, citing instances of 80-year-old “laborers” and counterfeit attendance records.
Investment in Rural Development
Chouhan detailed that the Modi government has invested over Rs 8.48 lakh crore in rural development, contrasting this with the UPA regime’s Rs 2 lakh crore. He raised questions about whether meaningful assets and improvements in villagers’ lives have resulted from previous government spending.
Focus on Corruption-Free Development
Chouhan described ‘VB-G RAM G’ as a “corruption-free, technology-driven, and worker-centric reform,” aimed at achieving tangible development in areas like water conservation, infrastructure, schools, hospitals, and disaster management. He urged that now is the time for collaboration, asserting that “Congress should stop spreading misinformation.”
Congress’s Response to the Critique
In response, Congress announced the formation of a coordination committee to oversee the implementation of its ‘MGNREGA Bachao Sangram’. Senior party leader Ajay Maken will serve as convenor of this committee. The campaign will call for the withdrawal of the VB-G RAM G Act and restoration of MGNREGA as a rights-based law, emphasizing the importance of empowering panchayats. The committee includes prominent Congress figures such as Jairam Ramesh, Sandeep Dikshit, Udit Raj, and Priyank Kharge, as appointed by party president Mallikarjun Kharge.
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