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Congress leader Sonia Gandhi warns that replacing MGNREGA with VB-G RAM G undermines employment rights, rural wages, and decentralised welfare in India.

Sonia Gandhi Criticizes MGNREGA Replacement by Modi Govt

Sonia Gandhi Criticizes MGNREGA Replacement

Congress leader Sonia Gandhi warns that replacing MGNREGA with VB-G RAM G undermines employment rights, rural wages, and decentralised welfare in India.

Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Monday said the "demolition" of the historic Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) will have catastrophic consequences for crores of people across rural India and called upon all to unite and safeguard the rights that protect everyone.
In an editorial in The Hindu titled "The bulldozed demolition of MGNREGA," the former Congress chief said the "death" of MGNREGA is a collective failure.
This comes a day after President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent to the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill, which replaces the MGNREGA and has a provision for 125 days of wage employment for rural workers.
"MGNREGA realised the Mahatma's vision of Sarvodaya (welfare of all) and enacted the constitutional right to work," Gandhi said. "It is imperative, now more than ever, to unite and safeguard the rights that protect us all," she added.
Gandhi said the employment guarantee scheme to deal with rural distress has now been "bulldozed and demolished."
MGNREGA was a rights-based legislation inspired by Article 41 of the Constitution of India, which calls upon the government to secure citizens' right to work, she said.
"Over the past few days, the Narendra Modi government worked to bulldoze MGNREGA's abolition without any discussion, consultation, or respect for parliamentary processes or Centre-State relations. The removal of the Mahatma's name was only the tip of the iceberg. The very structure of MGNREGA, so integral to its impact, has been annihilated," she said.
She described VB-G RAM G as "nothing but a set of bureaucratic provisions."
The Modi government's new Bill has restricted the ambit of the scheme to rural areas as notified by the Union at its discretion, Gandhi said.
Against uncapped central allocation, there is now a pre-determined budgetary allocation that caps the number of days of employment provided in each state. The number of workdays provided are, therefore, left to the Centre's priorities rather than the people's needs, she said, adding that the all-year guarantee of employment has been finished off.
Gandhi said one of the greatest impacts of MGNREGA was increased bargaining power of the landless poor in rural India, which elevated agricultural wages. "This bargaining power will definitely be eroded under the new law. The Modi government is attempting to suppress wage growth and that too at a time when the proportion of employment in agriculture has risen for the first time since Independence, contrary to what should have been the case," she noted.
She also said by transferring a significant portion of the expense onto the states, the Modi government is discouraging them from providing work under the scheme. The finances of states, already under severe stress and strain, will be further devastated, the Congress leader said.
Under the VB-G RAM G Bill, the cost-sharing pattern is 60:40 between the Centre and states, 90:10 for northeastern and Himalayan states, and 100 per cent central funding for Union territories without legislatures.
Gandhi further said that aside from demolishing the demand-based nature of the programme, the Modi government has ended the decentralised nature of the scheme.
"The Modi government is resorting to fraudulent claims that it has enhanced the employment guarantee from 100 days (under MGNREGA) to 125 days. For all the reasons outlined above, that will certainly not be the case. Indeed, the real nature of the Modi government's intentions can be understood from its decade-long track record of throttling MGNREGA. It began with the Prime Minister's (in)famous mocking of the scheme on the floor of the House and proceeded apace through a 'death by a thousand cuts' strategy through, for instance, stagnant budgets, the use of disenfranchising technology and delayed payments to workers," she said in the article.
Gandhi said the demolition of the right to work must not be seen in isolation but as part of the long assault by the ruling establishment on the Constitution and its right-based vision for the country.
"The most fundamental right to vote is under unprecedented assault. The Right to Information has been desecrated with legislative changes that weaken the autonomy of Information Commissioners, and by wholesale exemptions from the Act for ill-defined 'personal information data,'" she said.
The Right to Education has been undermined and The Forest Rights Act, 2006, was markedly weakened by the Forest (Conservation) Rules (2022), which removed the gram sabha from any role in permitting the diversion of forest land, the Congress leader said, adding that The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 has been significantly diluted.
"Through the three black farm laws, the government attempted to deny farmers the right to a minimum support price. The National Food Security Act, 2013, may very well be next on the chopping block," Gandhi said.

Opposition parties held a 12-hour overnight dharna in Parliament protesting the VB-G RAM G Bill replacing MGNREGA, alleging it is anti-poor and passed without debate.

Opposition sits on overnight protest in parliament against passage of G RAM G bill

Opposition parties held a 12-hour overnight dharna in Parliament protesting the VB-G RAM G Bill replacing MGNREGA, alleging it is anti-poor and passed without debate.

Opposition leaders staged a 12-hour overnight protest dharna in Parliament complex on Thursday night, while protesting against the passage of the VB-G RAM G bill that seeks to replace the MGNREGA rural employment programme and said they would take to the streets across the country.
Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha deputy leader Sagarika Ghose accused the Union government of bulldozing the VB- G RAM G bill, as opposition MPs sat on a 12-hour dharna in the Parliament complex.
The Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill was passed by Parliament amid opposition's protests, with the Rajya Sabha giving it its nod post midnight.
Ghose said the manner in which the Modi government has brought in this completely "anti-poor, anti-people, anti-farmer, anti-rural poor" VBGRG bill, and has done away with the MGNREGA.
"This is an insult to India's poor, it is an insult to Mahatma Gandhi, it is an insult to Rabindranath Tagore. With just five hours' notice, this bill was given to us. We were not allowed a proper debate," Ghose said.
"Our demand was such an important bill should be sent to the Select Committee and let the opposition parties examine it, let the opposition parties discuss it, let all stakeholders discuss it, but no, in a display of tyranny, in a murder of democracy," she said.
"We are now going to sit on a 12-hour dharna, 12-hour dharna against the manner in which the Modi government has brought this black law against the people of India, against the poor of India, against the rural poor of India," she said.
Congress general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala termed the day as a "sad day for the country's labour force and accused the Modi government as anti-farmer and anti-poor.
"This is perhaps the saddest day for the labourers of India. BJP government has attacked the livelihood of 12 crore people by repealing the MGNREGA. They have proved that the Modi government is anti-farmer and anti-poor," he alleged.
Congress leader Mukul Wasnik said, "When MGNREGA was drafted, consultations were held for 14 months. It was passed by Parliament with consensus. The scheme would put an extreme burden on states. As a result, this scheme will collapse."
DMK leader Tiruchi Siva said they shifted the statue of Mahatma Gandhi and Ambedkar to the back side of Parliament, where people cannot see.
"Likewise they have removed Mahatma Gandhi's name himself. Without Gandhi there is no freedom, that is the total belief in this country. Even in Britain parliament we are having Gandhi statue, but here in Indian parliament his statue is hidden somewhere, and now the scheme which bore his name, his name has also been removed," he claimed.
He said the entire opposition is agitated, he noted.

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan introduced the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025, replacing MGNREGA and aiming to provide 125 days of guaranteed rural employment.

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan moves to introduce VB-G RAM G Bill on rural employment in Lok Sabha

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan introduced the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025, replacing MGNREGA and aiming to provide 125 days of guaranteed rural employment.

The Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill, 2025, that seeks to replace the existing rural employment law MGNREGA, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday amid strong objections by the opposition to the "removal" of Mahatma Gandhi's name from it.
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, while introducing the bill, said the government not only believes in Mahatma Gandhi but also follows his principles. "The (Narendra) Modi govt has done more for rural development than previous governments," he said.
Opposition members strongly opposed the proposed legislation at the introduction stage and pressed for sending the bill to a parliamentary panel for greater scrutiny. The MPs, including Priyanka Gandhi of the Congress, strongly objected to the "removal" of Mahatma Gandhi's name.
The opposition members also came to the Well of the House, holding up photographs of Mahatma Gandhi, expressing their disapproval of the "removal" of the name of the Father of the Nation.
According to a copy of the Bill, it will provide a statutory guarantee of 125 days of wage employment in a financial year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to undertake unskilled manual work.
Within six months from the date of commencement of the VB-G RAM G Act, states will have to make a scheme consistent with the provisions of the new law.
In a statement, the Rural Development Ministry said the proposed legislation will establish a modern statutory framework aligned with the goal of 'Viksit Bharat 2047'.
It said the Bill aims to create both employment and durable rural infrastructure through four priority verticals -- water security through water-related works, core rural infrastructure, livelihood-related infrastructure, and special works to mitigate extreme weather events.
All assets created are aggregated into the Viksit Bharat National Rural Infrastructure Stack, ensuring a unified, coordinated national development strategy, the statement said.
The ministry termed it a "major upgrade" over MGNREGA, fixing structural weaknesses while enhancing employment, transparency, planning, and accountability.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticises government’s plan to repeal MGNREGA and introduce VB-G RAM G Bill, 2025, questioning the removal of Mahatma Gandhi’s name and financial implications of the change.

Why remove Mahatma Gandhi's name, asks Priyanka on move to replace MGNREGA

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticises government&rsquo;s plan to repeal MGNREGA and introduce VB-G RAM G Bill, 2025, questioning the removal of Mahatma Gandhi&rsquo;s name and financial implications of the change.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday slammed the government over its move to change the name of MGNREGA, asking what is the government's intention behind removing the name of Mahatma Gandhi who is the tallest leader not just in India but in the world.
A bill to repeal the MGNREGA and bring a new law for rural employment -- Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill, 2025 -- is set to be introduced in the Lok Sabha. According to a copy of the bill, it seeks to introduce the VB-G RAM G Bill, 2025, in Parliament and repeal the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) of 2005.
Asked about the government's move, Priyanka Gandhi said, "Whenever the name of a scheme is changed there are so many changes that have to be made in offices, stationery... for which money is spent. So, what is the benefit, why it is being done?"
"Why is Mahatma Gandhi's name being removed. Mahatma Gandhi is considered the tallest leader not just in the country but in the world, so removing his name, I really don't understand what is the objective? What is their intention?" she told reporters in Parliament House complex.
"Even when we are debating it is on other issues not the real issues of the people. Time is being wasted, money is being wasted, they are disrupting themselves," Priyanka Gandhi added.
The bill aims at establishing a "rural development framework aligned with the national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047", by providing a statutory guarantee of 125 days of wage employment in every financial year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to undertake unskilled manual work.
The bill has been listed in the Lok Sabha in the supplementary list of business issued on Monday.
Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, in the statement of purpose of the Bill, said MGNREGA has provided guaranteed wage-employment to rural households over the past 20 years.
However, "further strengthening has become necessary in view of the significant socio-economic transformation witnessed in the rural landscape driven by widespread coverage of the social security interventions and saturation-oriented implementation of major government schemes", he said.

The government has circulated a bill among Lok Sabha members to repeal MGNREGA and introduce the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), offering 125 days of rural employment.

Government Proposes New Bill to Replace MGNREGA with VB-G RAM G

Proposed VB-G RAM G Bill Aims to Replace MGNREGA

The government has circulated a bill among Lok Sabha members to repeal MGNREGA and introduce the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), offering 125 days of rural employment.

A bill to repeal the MGNREGA and bring a new law for rural employment -- Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill, 2025 -- is set to be introduced in the Lok Sabha.
According to a copy of the bill, it seeks to introduce the VB-G RAM G Bill, 2025, in Parliament and repeal the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act of 2005.
The bill aims at establishing a "rural development framework aligned with the national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047", by providing a statutory guarantee of 125 days of wage employment in every financial year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to undertake unskilled manual work.
The bill has been listed in the Lok Sabha in the supplementary list of business issued on Monday.
Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, in the statement of purpose of the Bill, said MGNREGA has provided guaranteed wage-employment to rural households over the past 20 years.
However, "further strengthening has become necessary in view of the significant socio-economic transformation witnessed in the rural landscape driven by widespread coverage of the social security interventions and saturation-oriented implementation of major government schemes", he said.
While the MGNREGA focused on the goal to "enhance the livelihood security", the new bill says it aims to promote "empowerment, growth, convergence and saturation for a prosperous and resilient rural Bharat", and lays emphasis on "empowerment, growth, convergence and saturation through public works aggregating into forming Viksit Bharat National Rural Infrastructure Stack".
Water security through water-related works, core rural infrastructure, livelihood-related infrastructure, and special works to mitigate extreme weather events will be the "thematic focus". It will also facilitate adequate farm-labour availability during peak agricultural seasons.
According to the bill, it is crucial to facilitate the availability of farm labour, especially during the peak agricultural season. It has a provision to empower states to notify in advance, for a certain duration, covering peak sowing and harvesting seasons, during which execution of works under this bill will not be undertaken.
With a focus on institutionalised convergence, the bill seeks to integrate 'Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans' with the PM Gati Shakti to address the "varying needs" of village panchayats.
A comprehensive digital ecosystem, including biometric authentication at various levels, global positioning system or mobile-based worksite monitoring, real-time management information system dashboards, proactive public disclosures, and use of artificial intelligence for planning, audits and fraud risk mitigation, will be used to modernise governance, accountability and citizen engagement, the bill stated.
It will be a centrally sponsored scheme, and every state government will have to prepare a scheme for giving effect to the guarantee proposed under this bill, within a period of six months from the date of the commencement of the Act.
The centre would make an allocation for each state, to be estimated based on certain parameters. Further, expenditure in excess of the approved normative allocation shall be the responsibility of the state governments.
The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, better known as MGNREGA, aims at enhancing the livelihood security of households in rural areas by providing at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year to every household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work. It was enacted in 2005.
The Winter Session of Parliament, which started on December 1, will conclude on December 19.

Mamata Banerjee urges the Centre to release pending MGNREGA funds, critiques BJP's Bengal day move. Her plea follows Calcutta High Court's directive amidst payment delays.

Mamata Banerjee Demands MGNREGA Funds Release

West Bengal’s CM Mamata Banerjee calls for urgent release of MGNREGA funds, questions BJP’s Bengal initiatives, and highlights payment issues after court’s directive.

Mamata Banerjee urges the center to release pending MGNREGA funds, questioning BJP's moves in Bengal.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said the central government should release funds pending for the MGNREGA, instead of sending inquiry teams to the state.
Her comment came after the Calcutta High Court directed the Centre to implement the MGNREGA, the 100-day job guarantee scheme, prospectively in West Bengal from August 1.
The high court noted that wages for the scheme were not paid for around three years in the state over allegations of irregularities in disbursals to some of the recipients.
Responding to the court order, Banerjee said, "The Centre is sending teams to Bengal, but first, give us the due money. Not a single rupee has been released for the past few years. This is public money." She further alleged that workers had not been paid for the work already done under the scheme.
"Funds for the 100-day work scheme haven't been released. People worked, but they weren't paid. Who will pay that money? We have paid it from the state government's funds. We are running the 'Karmashree' scheme with our own money," she said.
The chief minister also questioned the BJP's move to celebrate 'Paschim Banga Diwas' on June 20. On that day in 1947, the Bengal Legislative Assembly met and voted in favour of partition.
Banerjee said, "Now you want to come and celebrate 'Bangla Diwas'? Those who have continuously insulted and deprived Bengal are now trying to honour it?" The West Bengal government had last year started disbursing dues to nearly 30 lakh MGNREGA workers, amounting to Rs 2,700 crore, using state funds.
These payments have been pending since March 2022. The Centre's withholding of MGNREGA dues to Bengal has remained a prominent issue in the state's political discourse, with the Trinamool Congress accusing the BJP-led government of "economic discrimination" against the state.
On Wednesday, the Calcutta High Court said the Centre is empowered to impose special conditions, restrictions and regulations, which have not been imposed in other states of the country, so as to ensure that no illegality or irregularity occurs when the scheme is being implemented in West Bengal.
The court also allowed the Centre to continue its enquiry into the allegations of irregularities in some districts of the state.

Calcutta High Court orders MGNREGA restart in West Bengal from August 1, mandating special conditions to prevent past irregularities, boosting rural employment.

Calcutta HC Resumes MGNREGA in West Bengal

Calcutta High Court directs MGNREGA revival in West Bengal with implementation from August 1, emphasizing oversight to prevent past mishaps and supporting rural employment.

Calcutta High Court orders MGNREGA resumption in West Bengal from August 1 with special oversight to prevent past irregularities, ensuring scheme benefits rural employment.

The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday directed the center to implement the MGNREGA scheme prospectively in West Bengal from August 1.
The HC said the center is empowered to impose special conditions, restrictions, and regulations, which have not been imposed in other states of the country, so as to ensure that no illegality or irregularity occurs when the scheme is being implemented in the state.
Allowing the center to continue its inquiry into the allegations of irregularities in some districts of the state, a division bench presided over by Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam directed that the scheme be implemented prospectively with effect from August 1.
The court directed that the authorities in charge of the implementation of the scheme are entitled to impose special conditions to ensure that whatever had occurred three years prior should not recur.
The court said that it is not in dispute that certain irregularities have been pointed out by the Centre in the disbursement of wages under the MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) scheme.
The bench, also comprising Justice Chaitali Chatterjee (Das), noted that with regard to allegations of irregularities, action has been initiated, recoveries made and that such amount is being maintained in a bank account of the state nodal agency of MGNREGS, West Bengal.
The division bench said that at this juncture, the endeavour of the court is to ensure implementation of the scheme, which has been kept in abeyance for the past close to three years in the state.
The court said that no one can allow a person who illegally took advantage of the scheme to go scot-free.
"At this juncture, the court is concerned about the implementation of the scheme in West Bengal prospectively," the bench observed.
"The scheme of the Act does not envisage a situation where the scheme would be put to cold storage for eternity," it said.
The bench said that the Centre has sufficient powers to inquire into irregularities or illegalities in the manner of disbursement of the wages.
The court said that there can, however, be a line drawn between past actions and future steps to be taken to implement the scheme.
It said that this would be "in public interest" and subserve the object and purpose for which the central law was enacted.

Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan endorses MGNREGS as Andhra Pradesh's development backbone, emphasizing employment, wages, and rural infrastructure advancements.

MGNREGS Boosts Andhra Pradesh Development

Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan underscores MGNREGS as vital for Andhra Pradesh, boosting employment, wages, and rural infrastructure. Partnership with SBI enhances worker benefits.

Pawan Kalyan endorses MGNREGS as Andhra Pradesh's development backbone

Andhra Pradesh's Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan endorses MGNREGS. The scheme boosts livelihoods, infrastructure, and rural development.

Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Thursday called the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) the "backbone of state development." Addressing a gathering during May Day celebrations, Kalyan alleged that the previous government had ruined rural development during its tenure.
"The MGNREGS is not just a welfare scheme&mdash;it is the backbone of rural Andhra Pradesh, sustaining livelihoods and driving grassroots development," said Kalyan.
He said that it is not only engineers and doctors who contribute to nation-building but also laborers who work under the scorching sun and shed sweat for the country&rsquo;s progress.
The Janasena Party (JSP) supremo said that Rs 10,669 crore was spent under MGNREGS last year, generating 24.23 crore person-days of work and directly benefiting 75.23 lakh rural workers across the state.
Wages were increased from Rs 150 to Rs 307, with Rs 6,194 crore paid as wages and Rs 4,023 crore allocated for material components.
Under the Palle Panduga (Village Festival) initiative, 21,564 cattle sheds were built at Rs 377.37 crore, improving farmers&rsquo; earnings through livestock-based livelihood support across rural areas.
Kalyan said that 13,500 animal water troughs were constructed and 63,582 acres of fruit orchards were developed, boosting sustainable livelihoods among SC, ST, and BC communities in rural regions.
As many as 4,000 km of cement roads were built in backward colonies, and the government now plans to construct an additional equal length during this financial year, said the Deputy CM.
The state government partnered with SBI to offer insurance coverage of Rs 3 lakh to Rs 30 lakh for MGNREGS functionaries through a special MoU, Kalyan said.
He added that proposals worth Rs 87,000 crore were sent under the Jal Jeevan Mission, of which Rs 29,000 crore has already been approved by the Centre.
It is a central plan aimed at providing drinking water through taps to households in rural India.

MGNREGA saw a 48.8% rise in work demand in April 2024, with an annual increase of 3.9%. Rs 86,000 crore is allocated for FY25. The scheme generated 3 billion person-days of work last year, with Rs 8 lakh crore spent over the past decade

Demand for work under MGNREGA rise 48.8% in April: Report

<h2>MGNREGA saw a 48.8% rise in work demand in April 2024, with an annual increase of 3.9%. Rs 86,000 crore is allocated for FY25. The scheme generated 3 billion person-days of work last year, with Rs 8 lakh crore spent over the past decade</h2>

The demand for work under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act witnessed an increase by 48.8% in April 2024 month-on-month. As per ministry of rural development data accessed by Moneycontrol, as many as 301.8 lakh people demanded work in the particular month under the scheme.
&ldquo;Sequentially, the demand for work under MGNREGA increased sharply by 48.8% in April 2024,&rdquo; National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) monthly economic review stated in its report
<h3>Demand for work rise</h3>
When compared on yearly basis, the demand for work under the scheme increased 3.9% in April. Rs 86,000 crore is allocated for the scheme for FY25.&nbsp;
The Moneycontrol report also noted that as per Periodic Labour Force Survey for the quarter of January-March 2024, all-India urban unemployment rate declined. While the Naukri JobSpeak Index moderated year-on-year, sectors like travel and hospitality, banking, retail and IT services showed an increase in hiring activities.&nbsp;
The number of net new subscribers under the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) increased year-on-year while the demand under MGNREGA also increased.&nbsp;
<h3>MGNREGA scheme</h3>
MGNREGA provides guaranteed wage employment for 100 days &nbsp;in a financial year to rural households whose adult members are willing to take up manual work. This rural-job plan is a demand driven scheme that was passed by the Parliament in August 2005 and was implemented in February 2006 in the country&rsquo;s poorest districts.
In the past decade, Rs 8 lakh crore has been spent on the MGNREGA scheme. The employment guarantee scheme generated 3 billion person-days of work last year.
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A 23-year-old who worked under MNREGA, worked as a waiter, and stitched gunny bags has broken the National record in Men's 35-km racewalk. Ram Baboo who hails from a small village, Bahuara in UP's Sonbhadra has an inspiring story of struggle.The relentless young athlete completed the 35km racewalk in a record time of 2.36.32 seconds. While he broke the national record, Baboo wasn't very satisfied with his result.'I knew I would break the record because I had trained so hard. I walked 40-km sets in practice so that I feel at ease with 35 km. I am just disappointed that I couldn’t do well. But I’m sure I will reset the record again in two weeks,' he said. The UP-based athlete had to give up on his initial dreams of winning marathons after he suffered an injury in his knee. It was only a matter of time before Babu found his calling in racewalking.Since 2018, Babu, a class 7 dropout who comes from a very humble background has supported himself by doing odd jobs like digging up the soil through various village projects under MNREGA and working as a waiter in Varanasi. He, however, hated that job and he felt that digging up the soil was better than being a waiter. 'People don’t treat waiters nicely. They think of them as lesser humans. I felt terrible at the way people used to call me 'chhotu' and other names. I wanted to get out as soon as possible,' he said. Babu who currently trains under Army coach Basant Rana entered the Army Sports Institute, Pune after winning silver at the 2021 50-km racewalking. After finishing the race three-and-a-half minutes earlier than the previous record, the athlete is now keen to improve further when he next plays at the Open Nationals which will be held later this month in Bengaluru.

Meet Ram Baboo, a MNREGA worker who broke 35km racewalk national record

Ram Baboo who hails from a small village, Bahuara in UP's Sonbhadra has an inspiring story of struggle.

A 23-year-old who worked under MNREGA, worked as a waiter, and stitched gunny bags has broken the National record in Men's 35-km racewalk. Ram Baboo who hails from a small village, Bahuara in UP's Sonbhadra has an inspiring story of struggle. The relentless young athlete completed the 35km racewalk in a record time of 2.36.32 seconds. While he broke the national record, Baboo wasn't very satisfied with his result.'I knew I would break the record because I had trained so hard. I walked 40-km sets in practice so that I feel at ease with 35 km. I am just disappointed that I couldn&rsquo;t do well. But I&rsquo;m sure I will reset the record again in two weeks,' he said. The UP-based athlete had to give up on his initial dreams of winning marathons after he suffered an injury in his knee. It was only a matter of time before Babu found his calling in racewalking. Since 2018, Babu who comes from a very humble background has supported himself by doing odd jobs like digging up the soil through various village projects under MNREGA and working as a waiter in Varanasi. He, however, hated that job and he felt that digging up the soil was better than being a waiter. 'People don&rsquo;t treat waiters nicely. They think of them as lesser humans. I felt terrible at the way people used to call me 'chhotu' and other names. I wanted to get out as soon as possible,' he said. Babu who currently trains under Army coach Basant Rana entered the Army Sports Institute, Pune after winning silver at the 2021 50-km racewalking. After finishing the race three-and-a-half minutes earlier than the previous record, the athlete is now keen to improve further when he next plays at the Open Nationals which will be held later this month in Bengaluru.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday launched the “Indira Gandhi Urban Employment Scheme” along the lines of the MGNREGA to provide 100 days of employment a year to families in urban areas.

100-day employment scheme for urban poor launched in Rajasthan, over 4 lakh apply for registration

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday launched the “Indira Gandhi Urban Employment Scheme” along the lines of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act or MGNREGA to provide 100 days of employment a year to families in urban areas. 

More than 4 lakh people have applied for registration, job cards have been issued to 2.50 lakh people, said Local Self Government and Urban Development and Housing Minister Shanti Dhariwal during the launch event.&nbsp;

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday launched a scheme along the lines of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) to provide 100 days of employment to families in urban areas.
Terming the Indira Gandhi Urban Employment Scheme (IGUES) historic, Gehlot said any family that wants to increase their income at a time of high inflation could apply for jobs under it.
The scheme was prepared after studying similar programmes introduced in other states, he added after launching the programme during a state-level event at Ambedkar Bhawan in Jaipur.
Ten women beneficiaries were presented job cards during the function.
Under the scheme, projects on environment protection, water conservation, heritage conservation, maintenance of gardens, removal of encroachment, illegal sign boards, hoardings and banners, and sanitation will be undertaken.
People in the 18 to 60 age group are eligible for the scheme, under which at least 50 people in each ward of urban local bodies will be given employment.
To register for it, a Janaadhar card or its registration slip is required. Registrations can be done at e-Mitra centres. The government has allocated Rs 800 crore for the scheme, which was announced by the chief minister during this year's state budget.
"We recently held a rally in Delhi against the Centre over inflation. This fight with the Centre will run parallel in public interest but here is an excellent scheme under which various type of works will be done," Gehlot said.
The chief minister said the MGNREGA was started during the UPA government at the Centre for employment in rural areas, which had a positive outcome.
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"Employment opportunities were easily accessible to the rural unemployed people across the country. This also improved the standard of living," he said.
Gehlot said when the employment crisis increased during the coronavirus pandemic, the MGNREGA proved to be a boon.
"Keeping this in mind, the historic decision to start employment guarantee scheme for urban areas was announced in the budget," he said.
Rajasthan Local Self Government and Urban Development and Housing (UDH) Minister Shanti Dhariwal said nearly 40,000 people got the work on the first day. More than 4 lakh people have applied for registration, job cards have been issued to 2.50 lakh people, he said.
The chief minister also highlighted other initiatives of the state government, including the Chiranjeevi Health Insurance Scheme. The state government has made treatment free under the Chiranjeevi scheme so that the poor do not need to sell their belongings to get treatment, he said.
Gehlot said his government will give smartphones with three years of free internet connection to 1.35 crore women.
He also highlighted the state government's initiative to open Mahatma Gandhi English Medium schools to provide education to children in English medium, and a scheme to distribute free sanitary napkins to women.
The CM also talked about the problems faced by people living in slums and said the state government will regularise &ldquo;kucchi bastis&rdquo;.
He also interacted with labourers and distributed necessary tools to them.
The state-level function was held at Ambedkar Bhawan near Tunnel Chauraha in the state capital. The programme was telecast live.
Jaipur Heritage Municipal Corporation Mayor Munesh Gurjar, local MLAs Rafiq Khan and Amin Kagzi, the chairperson of the Social Welfare Board, Archana Sharma, were also present on the occasion.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Thursday voiced concern over the budgetary cut for MGNREGA, contending that several states have negative balance in their accounts to the tune of Rs 5000 crore which has led to delays in payments to workers.
Raising the issue during the Zero Hour, Gandhi urged the government to make adequate allocations to MGNREGA, a scheme that had helped the government during the COVID-19 pandemic, and ensure payments within 15 days.
Rural Development Minister Giriraj Singh and I&B Minister Anurag Thakur hit back at Gandhi, accusing her of politicising the issue and claimed that her remarks were “far from truth”.
“The issue raised by the honourable member is far from the truth. The budgetary allocation for MGNREGA in 2013-14 (UPA years) was Rs 33,000 crore, whereas under Prime Minister Narendra Modi it had reached Rs 1.12 lakh crore. No need to show us the mirror,” Singh said.
Gandhi said MGNREGA, which was mocked by some persons, had provided timely help to crores of affected poor families during the pandemic and played a positive role in helping the government.
“Still there is regular reduction in the budgetary allocation for MGNREGA. This year the budget for MGNREGA is 35 per cent less than that of 2020. This comes at a time when unemployment is rising continuously,” she said.
Gandhi said the budgetary cuts were weakening the legal guarantee of timely payment and employment. She noted that the Supreme Court had likened the delay in MGNREGA payments with forced labour.
Gandhi said the states were told that their annual labour budget will not be approved unless they meet conditions related to social audit and appointment of Lokpal.
“Social audit should be made effective but workers can't be punished by stopping the money for this,” she said.
“I request the Central government to allocate adequate funds for MGNREGA, ensure payment of workers within 15 days of work, and pay compensation in case of delay in payment of wages,” Gandhi said.
Responding to Gandhi, Thakur alleged that the MGNREGA scheme saw massive corruption under the UPA government, which was weeded out by the Modi government.
He said under Prime Minister Modi, geo-tagging of assets created under MGNREGA was introduced and payments were directly made to workers in their Jan Dhan accounts.
Congress members were up on their feet protesting the remarks targeting the UPA made by Singh and Thakur.
As the commotion continued, Thakur said it was ironic for the opposition to criticise when a union minister had responded immediately to an issue raised by Gandhi.

Sonia voices concern over MGNREGA budget cut, Centre hits back

While speaking&nbsp;in Lok&nbsp;Sabha, Congress interim president attacked Centre over&nbsp;budget allocated for MGNREGA.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Thursday voiced concern over the budgetary cut for MGNREGA, contending that several states have negative balance in their accounts to the tune of Rs 5000 crore which has led to delays in payments to workers.
Raising the issue during the Zero Hour, Gandhi urged the government to make adequate allocations to MGNREGA, a scheme that had helped the government during the COVID-19 pandemic, and ensure payments within 15 days.
Rural Development Minister Giriraj Singh and I&amp;B Minister Anurag Thakur hit back at Gandhi, accusing her of politicising the issue and claimed that her remarks were &ldquo;far from truth&rdquo;.
&ldquo;The issue raised by the honourable member is far from the truth. The budgetary allocation for MGNREGA in 2013-14 (UPA years) was Rs 33,000 crore, whereas under Prime Minister Narendra Modi it had reached Rs 1.12 lakh crore. No need to show us the mirror,&rdquo; Singh said.
Gandhi said MGNREGA, which was mocked by some persons, had provided timely help to crores of affected poor families during the pandemic and played a positive role in helping the government.
&ldquo;Still there is regular reduction in the budgetary allocation for MGNREGA. This year the budget for MGNREGA is 35 per cent less than that of 2020. This comes at a time when unemployment is rising continuously,&rdquo; she said.
Gandhi said the budgetary cuts were weakening the legal guarantee of timely payment and employment. She noted that the Supreme Court had likened the delay in MGNREGA payments with forced labour.
Gandhi said the states were told that their annual labour budget will not be approved unless they meet conditions related to social audit and appointment of Lokpal.
&ldquo;Social audit should be made effective but workers can't be punished by stopping the money for this,&rdquo; she said.
&ldquo;I request the Central government to allocate adequate funds for MGNREGA, ensure payment of workers within 15 days of work, and pay compensation in case of delay in payment of wages,&rdquo; Gandhi said.
Responding to Gandhi, Thakur alleged that the MGNREGA scheme saw massive corruption under the UPA government, which was weeded out by the Modi government.
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He said under Prime Minister Modi, geo-tagging of assets created under MGNREGA was introduced and payments were directly made to workers in their Jan Dhan accounts.
Congress members were up on their feet protesting the remarks targeting the UPA made by Singh and Thakur.
As the commotion continued, Thakur said it was ironic for the opposition to criticise when a union minister had responded immediately to an issue raised by Gandhi.

Mallikarjun Kharge, the leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, on Sunday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi offering six suggestions to tackle the incumbent Covid-19 crisis.
The Congress leader asked PM Modi to convene an all-party meeting and virtual meetings of the standing committees of Parliament. The letter also sent to Rajya Sabha chairman Venkaiah Naidu demanded use of ₹35,000 crore allocated in Union Budget to ensure free vaccine for all.
Kharge said in his letter that the scope of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act should be extended to 200 days.
The letter comes a day before the Congress Working Committee holds a meeting to review the party's performance in the recently concluded assembly elections and the prevailing Covid-19 situation.

MGNREGA extension, free vaccine: Khare writes to PM Modi over Covid-19 crisis

Mallikarjun Kharge, the leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, on Sunday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi offering six suggestions to tackle the incumbent Covid-19 crisis.
The Congress leader asked PM Modi to convene an all-party meeting and virtual meetings of the standing committees of Parliament. The letter also sent to Rajya Sabha chairman Venkaiah Naidu demanded use of ₹35,000 crore allocated in Union Budget to ensure free vaccine for all.
Kharge said in his letter that the scope of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act should be extended to 200 days.
The letter comes a day before the Congress Working Committee holds a meeting to review the party's performance in the recently concluded assembly elections and the prevailing Covid-19 situation.

Probe ordered after Deepika, Dia's images appear on MGNREGA cards

Government authorities have ordered an inquiry after several MNREGA&nbsp;cards were discovered in MP's&nbsp;Khargone&nbsp;district with images of Bollywood&nbsp;actors, Deepika&nbsp;Padukone,&nbsp;and Dia&nbsp;Mirza. The issue was brought to light by RTI&nbsp;activist Sandeep&nbsp;Madahar&nbsp;who claimed that it was not a clerical or technical issue and suspects that it is a well-planned scam to siphon off lakhs&nbsp;of public money. While at least a dozen job cards feature the images of the female actors, the cardholders are mostly men who belong to the PiparKheda&nbsp;Naka village. Madahar&nbsp;also revealed that in his scrutiny he found out that although the cards displayed on the MNREGA&nbsp;website had renewed serial numbers, the cardholders either did not get their cards renewed or did not&nbsp;have the card at all.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Probe ordered into MNREGA cards with Deepika, Dia Mirza's images 

MGNREGA cards with Deepika, Dia's images&nbsp;
Cards show actors' and not beneficiaries' photo
RTI&nbsp;activist Sandeep&nbsp;Madahar&nbsp;suspects scam
Govt authotities have ordered enquiry

Government authorities have ordered an enquiry after several MGNREGA&nbsp;cards were discovered in MP's&nbsp;Khargone&nbsp;district with images of Bollywood&nbsp;actors, Deepika&nbsp;Padukone,&nbsp;and Dia&nbsp;Mirza. The issue was brought to light by RTI&nbsp;activist Sandeep&nbsp;Madahar&nbsp;who suspects that it is a well-planned scam to siphon off public money.&nbsp;The names and addresses are real on about a dozen of job cards but the photographs are of the two actors instead of the actual beneficiaries.&nbsp;Madahar&nbsp;revealed upon visiting the village he&nbsp;found that the people were hardly aware of renewal of their cards and that the serial numbers on the new cards didn&rsquo;t match with that of their old cards. None of them had even applied for the renewal.&nbsp;

mgnrega

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