Himachal Pradesh News
Himachal Pradesh : Congress pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, observes fast against ‘dilution’ of MGNREGA
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and senior Congress leaders on Tuesday paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi on his death anniversary and observed a two-hour fast in Shimla to protest against the alleged renaming and dilution of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and senior Congress leaders on Tuesday paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi on his death anniversary and observed a two-hour fast in Shimla to protest against the alleged renaming and dilution of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
The leaders gathered near Gandhi’s statue and staged the symbolic fast, accusing the BJP-led Union government of weakening the rural employment scheme that has supported lakhs of families across the country.
Addressing the gathering, Sukhu said the Centre had not only changed the name of the scheme but had also undermined its core objective of providing assured employment, particularly to youth and women in rural areas.
“The scheme earlier ensured work opportunities close to home, but employment avenues are now being curtailed,” he said.
The Chief Minister added that earlier village pradhans had the authority to execute development works such as road construction under MGNREGA, which helped generate local employment. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, the scheme played a crucial role in providing maximum employment to people. However, the powers of panchayat pradhans have now been reduced,” he said.
