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Chouhan Defends New Rural Employment Act
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has robustly defended the newly enacted VB-G RAM G Act, positioning it as a significant step towards realizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a developed India. The minister contrasted the new legislation with the previous Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) of 2005, which he alleged was plagued by corruption and inefficiency.
Allegations Against MGNREGA
Chouhan detailed concerns regarding the previous scheme, pointing to specific instances. He cited Punjab, where he claimed only 5,915 out of 13,304 panchayats underwent social audits, revealing approximately 10,653 instances of corruption that reportedly went unaddressed. Furthermore, the minister alleged the creation of fake bills and execution of unapproved works under MGNREGA.
He suggested that the name 'G RAM G' could be utilized for Punjab's development rather than being a point of contention. Chouhan also voiced that passing a resolution against a parliamentary law in a state assembly undermines the federal structure and constitutional principles, deeming it undemocratic.
Alignment with Viksit Bharat Mission
The new VB-G RAM G Act, according to Chouhan, is intrinsically linked to the 'Viksit Bharat' (developed India) initiative. He emphasized that a developed India necessitates developed villages, making the new scheme a cornerstone of the government's developmental objectives. The minister critiqued MGNREGA for its perceived lack of evidential growth at the village level despite substantial spending over the years.
Improvements in the New Scheme
Chouhan highlighted improvements in the VB-G RAM G Act, including a seamless payment system and better provisions for work availability, addressing prior complaints of delayed payments. He also claimed that the old scheme often involved machine labor over manual work, inflated estimates, incorrect valuations, and repetitive tasks.
Budgetary Enhancements and Workdays
Concluding that MGNREGA was neither aligned with growth nor profitable for laborers in its existing form, the government decided to replace it with the VB-G RAM G Act. The new scheme increases guaranteed workdays from 100 to 125. To support this, the budget has been substantially increased to ₹1,51,282 crore, up from ₹88,000 crore. The central government's share is expected to exceed ₹95,000 crore, with potential for further increase.
Under the new framework, Gram Panchayats will be responsible for preparing comprehensive village development plans to be executed through the scheme. Chouhan stated he addressed all parliamentary queries about the scheme, but faced interruptions from the opposition.
Impact
This policy shift could significantly influence rural employment dynamics, government expenditure on social welfare programs, and potentially spur local development projects. Investors in sectors related to rural infrastructure and employment may see indirect impacts. The increased budget and workdays signal a strong governmental push towards rural upliftment, aiming for greater efficiency and reduced corruption compared to the previous scheme. The debate around its implementation and effectiveness will be closely watched.
Impact Rating: 6/10
Difficult Terms Explained
VB-G RAM G Act: A newly passed government act focused on rural employment and development, replacing the previous MGNREGA.
MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act): A previous Indian law providing at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year to rural households.
Viksit Bharat Mission: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for a developed India, aiming for comprehensive progress across various sectors.
Panchayat: A local self-governance system at the village or small town level in India.
Social Audit: A process where the community or beneficiaries verify the implementation and outcomes of government schemes.
Federal System: A political system where power is divided between a central government and regional governments (states).
Gram Panchayat: The basic unit of local self-government in rural India, responsible for local administration and development.