Sonia Gandhi in Rajya Sabha accuses government of systematically crippling MNREGS scheme

During Zero hour Sonia Gandhi while raising the issue, said,” Despite rising demand for work, the government is cutting funds, forcing states to bear the burden and leaving millions of job-seekers helpless. The budget allocation for MGNREGA has remained stagnant at Rs 86,000 crore”.

She said that for 2024-25, the central government has allocated a budget of 86,000 crore rupees for MGNREGA, which is the lowest in the past 10 years and 19,297 crore rupees less than last year’s expenditure. 

She alleged that every year, the rural employment scheme faces the issue of inadequate fund allocation. After the presentation of the budget by the central government, concerns were raised that the reduction in MGNREGA’s budget could adversely affect employment and livelihood security in rural India.

Why is the Modi government punishing the poor while writing off lakhs of crores in loans for its billionaire friends? MGNREGA was introduced during the UPA government led by Dr Manmohan Singh. This historic law has been a crucial safety net for millions of people living in rural India.

Meanwhile, in the Lok Sabha, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi raised the issue of farmers in Kerala during Question Hour. She highlighted the losses faced by farmers due to the natural disaster in Wayanad.

She urged the central government to show empathy toward Kerala’s farmers as well. In response, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, “A farmer is a farmer.” He informed that assistance is provided under the NDRF in disaster situations. Kerala has also been provided with an aid of 121 crore rupees. He assured that wherever farmers face crises due to natural disasters, the government will stand with them, and there will be no discrimination.

Congress will fight for MNREGA, and we will not allow the BJP to destroy it.