Kharge Criticizes Modi Over MGNREGA Fund Allocation

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge criticized the Modi government for poor handling of MGNREGA, describing it as a betrayal of rural India. Kharge claims that budget cuts and job card deletions have deeply affected millions relying on the scheme. He pledged to raise wages if Congress returns to power.

On Friday, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge criticized the Modi government's management of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), stating it epitomizes the Prime Minister's betrayal of India's rural population.

Kharge reminded citizens that the MGNREGA, enacted in 2005 by Congress-led UPA government, was designed to ensure the 'Right to Work' for millions of rural workers. He highlighted that despite its criticality, the scheme is suffering from low wages, decreased work days, and extensive job card deletions.

Kharge expressed concerns on social media, pointing to the current budget allocation falling to a ten-year low of just 1.78% of the total budget. He argued that this allocation results in artificially suppressed demand for work. He also emphasized that recent reports show the daily wages from MGNREGA are insufficient, especially given rising rural inflation. He reiterated Congress's commitment to increase the daily wage to Rs 400.

(With inputs from agencies.)