Overhaul MGNREGA; Sonia Gandhi's Push in Rajya Sabha
Sonia Gandhi in Rajya Sabha Today
Congress leader Sonia Gandhi sharply criticized the BJP-led central government in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, accusing it of systematically weakening the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, she demanded an increase in the minimum wage to Rs 400 per day and an extension of guaranteed workdays from 100 to 150 annually, spotlighting the scheme’s role as a lifeline for rural India.
Gandhi recalled MGNREGA’s inception in 2005 under the UPA government led by Manmohan Singh, calling it “a crucial safety net for millions of rural poor.” She alleged, however, that “the present BJP government has systematically undermined the scheme,” pointing to a stagnant Rs 86,000 crore budget—unchanged since FY23 and a decade-low as a GDP percentage. Adjusted for inflation, she claimed, this reflects a Rs 4,000 crore real-term cut, with 20% of funds earmarked for clearing past dues rather than new work.
She highlighted operational hurdles, stating, “The scheme faces multiple challenges, including the exclusionary Aadhaar-based payment and the National Mobile Monitoring System, persistent delays in wage payment, and wage rates not adequate to compensate for inflation.” Current wages, revised by 3-10% for FY24-25 to a range of Rs 237 (Uttarakhand) to Rs 300 (Andhra Pradesh), fall short of rising costs, she argued. Gandhi demanded scrapping the Aadhaar Payments Bridge System (APBS) and NMMS app—tools for real-time attendance tracking—asserting, “These measures are essential to ensure that MGNREGA provides dignified employment and financial security.”
Urging “adequate financial provisions” to bolster the program, Gandhi tied its enhancement to rural economic stimulus, echoing her March 17 National Herald remarks on boosting purchasing power. This marks only her second Zero Hour intervention since joining the Rajya Sabha in February 2024, signaling a renewed focus on rural welfare as Congress gears up for political battles ahead. The government has yet to respond, but her call reignites debate over MGNREGA’s funding and efficacy amid India’s rural distress.
