The Congress patted its own back for enacting MGNREGA and claimed the largest ever employment generation programme has contributed the most in uplifting economic condition of the poor in rural areas.
The party, on the occasion of completion of 10 years of the employment guarantee programme, organised a seminar at its State headquarter on Tuesday.
Speaking here, Congress State president Sukhdeo Bhagat termed the programme as heartbeat for the rural masses. “MGNREGA has proved a basis of livelihood for a large part of rural India and become like heartbeats for the people. Since 2008, it is providing jobs to 5 crore households annually and its uniqueness has forced even critics to modify their views towards it; be it the World Bank or Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” said Bhagat.
He added that cumulatively Rs3.14 lakh crore has been spent so far through the scheme and 71 per cent of it has gone to labourers as wages. The party also used the occasion to compare newly started programmes by the NDA regime such as ‘Start-Up India’ and ‘Make in India’ with MGNREGA and rated it ahead of the all.
The Congress also tried to spell out a message while claiming its ownership on the job guarantee scheme which has virtually won UPA’s second term in the office in the 2009 lok Sabha polls. Considering the ground the party has lost across the country, the event was also to remind voters, especially marginalised ones about its deeds. Bhagat also criticised the present dispensation for keeping indifferent attitude towards the scheme.
Social activist Balram praised the efforts of the Congress in bringing the programme for the benefits of masses. “Jharkhand is the State which needed NREGA the most due to displacement, human trafficking and abject poverty. But a large number of delayed payment cases are derailing the scheme here. The time has come to bring the programme into top priorities for the State,” said Balram.
Also present there on the occasion, former Union Minister Subodh Kant Sahay recalled the time when the Act was passed. He credited all the parties for supporting the path-breaking legislation but also underlined the corruption embedded into its implementation in Jharkhand.
Congress MlA Alamgir Alam alleged the NDA for putting hindrances into the way of the scheme. JPCC general Secretary Alok Dubey said that attitude of the Centre and State Governments has changed towards MGNREGA over the years due to the scheme’s features and contribution. Former Minister KN Tripathi and senior party leaders were also present on the occasion.