Mallikarjun Kharge slams Centre for "slashing" MGNREGA budget by "33 per cent"

File Photo/PTI

Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party government for "slashing 33 per cent" Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme budget-a flagship programme started by the previous UPA regime- in 2005.

Stating that the programme started by the Congress party still supports 14.42 crore active workers, Kharge accused the Central government of "withholding" Rs 6,366 crore as MGNREGA wages to 18 States and Union Territories.

"On this day in 2005, our Congress-UPA Govt enacted MGNREGA to ensure "Right to Work" to crores of people. Even though Modi Govt has cut MGNREGA's budget by 33 %, this year and it owes 6,366 crores in MGNREGA wages to 18 States and Union Territories, this flagship programme started by the Congress party still supports 14.42 crore active workers, more than half of them are women," Kharge posted on X.

The Union Budget allocated Rs 60,000 crore for the MGNREGA scheme for 2023-24, 18 per cent lower than the Rs 73,000 crore budget estimates for the year 2022-23, and about 33 per cent lower than the Rs 89,000 crore revised estimates for the current year.

The Congress Chief further said in another tweet that MGNREGA was a "lifesaver" during COVID-19 pandemic-induced lockdown.

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"Acted as a safety net for crores of workers, making up for 80 per cent of their income loss during the pandemic,' Kharge posted.

Earlier in the year, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said funds for MGNREGA depend on the demand for work and provisions for allocations are made accordingly.

Under MGNREGA, at least one hundred days of unskilled manual work are provided in a financial year to every household in rural areas as per demand, ensuring social inclusion, and strengthening Panchayati Raj institutions. (ANI)