Punjab govt to call special Assembly session over proposed replacement of MGNREGA
PTC Web Desk: The Punjab Government has decided to summon a special session of the Vidhan Sabha in the second week of January to challenge the Centre’s proposal to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) with the Viksit Bharat Gramin Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (VB-GRAMG).
Making the announcement, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said the BJP-led Union Government’s move would directly affect the livelihoods of the rural poor. He maintained that MGNREGA has been a critical safety net for village households and warned that any attempt to dilute or replace it would weaken employment security in rural areas. CM Mann said the special Assembly session would be used to place Punjab’s opposition on record.
The last special sitting of the Punjab Assembly, held on November 24, was formally prorogued by the Governor on December 17.
As per a report in The Tribune, the decision to convene another special session was finalised during a meeting of senior AAP leaders on Thursday evening. The meeting was attended by party national convener Arvind Kejriwal, who is currently on a three-day visit to the state.
The VB-GRAMG Bill was recently cleared by Parliament amid protests from Opposition parties. One of the major concerns flagged by states relates to the revised funding pattern under the proposed scheme, which would require state governments to contribute a larger share. Officials said this could put additional pressure on states already facing financial constraints, including Punjab.
Resistance to the proposed policy change has also spilled onto the streets. Labour and farm worker unions have intensified protests across several districts. On Thursday, Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union members staged demonstrations in Bathinda, Moga, Muktsar, Faridkot and Sangrur, burning effigies of the Central Government.
Union leaders argue that discontinuing MGNREGA would strip rural families of assured employment and weaken social protection mechanisms, while also removing a scheme closely identified with Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy.
- PTC NEWS
