resolution-against-vb-g-ram-g-act-tabled-in-punjab-assembly

The Punjab government on Tuesday brought a resolution against the VB-G RAM G Act in the Punjab Assembly and accused the BJP-led Central government of trying to finish the MGNREGA. Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond tabled the resolution in the House for discussion during the one-day session of the Assembly.

 

Sond said the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), or VB-G RAM G, Act would severely impact below-poverty-line families, scheduled caste communities and rural labourers who depend on the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) for survival. He alleged that the Centre wanted to finish the MGNREGA and demanded its restoration.

 

Moving the resolution, the state Assembly deprecated the VB-G RAM G Act, which it said “takes away the right to guaranteed wages/employment from poor labourers, women and lakhs of job card-holding families of the state”. It recommended that the state government take up the matter with the Centre to maintain the demand-based, rights-based and fully centrally sponsored structure of MGNREGA.

 

The resolution also demanded that the Centre should reconsider those provisions of the VB-G RAM G Act which impose "undue financial burden" on the states and dilute the right to employment of rural labourers. Participating in the discussion on the resolution, AAP MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal called the VB-G RAM G Act "anti-poor" and demanded its withdrawal.

 

Why special session: Jakhar

 

Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar questioned the purpose of convening another special session of the state Assembly, and asked how it would be beneficial for the people of the state.

 

In a post on X in Punjabi, Jakhar said it would have been better had the government discussed the worsening law and order situation as peace and stability were essential for people to work and earn a living. “The state government is avoiding an inquiry into the corruption in the NREGA scheme to protect its ministers and officials,” he said, asking whether Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann would clarify these issues in the Assembly.

 

Also read: Chouhan hits out at Punjab over G RAM G Act resolution