New Delhi, August 23 – Mallikarjun Kharge, the President of Congress, asserted on Wednesday that the Modi government still has an outstanding due of Rs 6,366 crore in MGNREGA wages to be disbursed across 18 states and union territories in the country. This comes in spite of a 33% reduction in the program’s budget.
Kharge also took the opportunity to commend the MGNREGA program, a flagship rural employment guarantee initiative introduced by the Congress party on the same date in 2005. He stated, “Our Congress-UPA Government enacted MGNREGA on this day in 2005, ensuring the ‘Right to Work’ for millions of people.”
Despite the Modi government’s substantial budget cut, Kharge highlighted that the MGNREGA program continues to support an impressive 14.42 crore active workers, with a significant portion being women. “Even though the Modi Government has reduced MGNREGA’s budget by 33% this year and owes Rs 6,366 crore in MGNREGA wages to 18 States and Union Territories, this flagship program initiated by the Congress party still sustains 14.42 crore active workers, with over half of them being women,” Kharge conveyed.
The significance of MGNREGA was further emphasized by Kharge, who stressed its role as a lifeline during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. He noted that the program acted as a safety net for millions of workers, compensating for up to 80% of their income loss during the pandemic-induced crisis.
The Congress party also pointed out that MGNREGA was originally passed under the leadership of Manmohan Singh. The program’s legacy, according to the party, has been one of providing livelihood security to millions and mitigating the financial impact of the pandemic by ensuring people’s sustenance in challenging times. This statement was made on ‘X’, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
