The Lok Sabha passed the G RAM G Bill by a voice vote amid uproar by the opposition. The speaker adjourned the Lok Sabha for the day after the bill was passed
Opposition leaders protest inside the Parliament complex against the VB-G RAM G Bill passed in Lok Sabha on Thursday. Pic/PTI
The Lok Sabha on Thursday passed a bill that seeks to replace the 20-year-old MGNREGA with a new initiative that guarantees rural jobs for 125 days every year amid vociferous protests by the Opposition.
Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan responded to the eight-hour discussion on The Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill, asserting that the government was ensuring that the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi were upheld through various initiatives taken by it.
“Congress killed ideals of Bapu, NDA ensured Bapu lives through pucca houses built under the PM Awas Yojana, Ujjwala yojana, Swachh Bharat Mission, Ayushman Bharat,” Chouhan said listing out government schemes for welfare of the poor.
Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge
The Lok Sabha passed the G RAM G Bill by a voice vote amid uproar by the opposition. The speaker adjourned the Lok Sabha for the day after the bill was passed.
Opposition MPs hold protest
Several opposition Members of Parliament on Thursday took out a protest march inside the Parliament House complex against the G RAM G bill with Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge asserting that there will be a nationwide movement against this “systematic murder of the world's largest employment scheme”.
Behind a huge banner of ‘Mahatma Gandhi NREGA’, they marched from the Gandhi statue at Prerna Sthal to Makar Dwar, raising slogans against the government.
“The Modi government has not only insulted the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, but has also crushed the right to work, which was instrumental in bringing about socio-economic transformation in India's villages,” Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said.
Kharge added, “This is not merely a case of renaming MGNREGA; rather, it is the systematic murder of the world’s largest employment scheme.”
Speaking to reporters, AICC general secretary K C Venugopal said, “Today, Parliament is witnessing the murder of democracy. By removing the name of Mahatma Gandhi from NREGA they are trying to kill the democratic values as well as the ideology of the Father of the Nation.”
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra vowed to strongly oppose the G RAM G Bill, asserting that the proposed legislation will finish off the rural employment guarantee scheme completely. She asserted that the opposition is united on the issue and will strongly oppose the government move.
‘MGNREGA corrupted’
Chouhan said during the UPA rule, MGNREGA was riddled with corruption and the expected amount of funds was not spent on procurement of material for designated jobs.
“Funds were not allotted to the states as expected. As per the Act, 60 per cent of the funds were to be spent on labour and 40 per cent on material. But, only 26 per cent was spent,” he alleged.
Chouhan said the G RAM G Bill was brought after extensive deliberations as it was felt that amount should not be spent on merely paying wages, but used for creating permanent assets.
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