Centre diluting MGNREGA, destroying rural employment scheme: Vijay Inder Singla

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, December 22, 2025: The MGNREGA scheme had been a source of strength for people in rural areas and was implemented as a law during the UPA-I government to realise Mahatma Gandhi’s dream of uplifting the poor, alleged Congress Working Committee member Vijay Inder Singla.

Addressing a press conference at the Congress office in the city on Monday, he said the scheme was designed with gram panchayats as its foundation to ensure self-reliant livelihoods for rural residents. However, by changing the name and structure of the programme, the BJP-led Central government has destroyed one of the best employment schemes meant for rural people, he alleged.

Singla said that over the past two decades since the scheme’s implementation, a large number of people have been able to shape their lives through employment under the programme. Earlier, the scheme was implemented with a funding pattern of 10 per cent from the state and 90 per cent from the Centre. This has now been altered, with the state’s share increased to 40 per cent and the Centre’s reduced to 60 per cent. He also pointed out that while work proposals could earlier be sent periodically, they can now be submitted only once a year, which would lead to a reduction in available work.

He alleged that since coming to power in 2014, the BJP has repeatedly attempted to dilute or remove the scheme. Condemning the Centre’s move, he said protests would be organised at the state, district and village levels.

Singla further alleged that the Central government misused the autonomous Enforcement Directorate (ED) to hatch a conspiracy against senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. He said a Delhi court’s refusal to entertain proceedings related to the National Herald case amounted to a “slap in the face” for the Central government. He added that despite this, the Centre has now decided to file an appeal, and the Congress is prepared to face it.

District Congress president Harish Kumar, Legislative Council members Ivan D’Souza and Manjunath Bhandari, former minister Ramanath Rai, former MLA J.R. Lobo, Women’s Congress president Appi and others were present at the press conference.