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Mamata's Bold Move: Renaming Bengal Job Scheme After Gandhi Amid NREGA Row

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has made a significant political statement. She announced that her government will rename the state's Karmashree rural job guarantee scheme after Mahatma Gandhi. This move comes as a direct criticism of the Centre's proposed replacement of the MGNREGA scheme. Banerjee emphasized her commitment to providing work using state resources, even if central funds are withheld.

Key Points: Mamata Renames Bengal Karmashree Scheme After Mahatma Gandhi

  • Mamata Banerjee criticizes Centre's plan to replace MGNREGA with VB-G RAM G scheme
  • Announces renaming of Bengal's Karmashree scheme after Mahatma Gandhi
  • Slams Centre for stopping MGNREGA funds to West Bengal for years
  • Vows to increase workdays under state scheme to 100 using own resources
2 min read

CM Mamata to rename Bengal job scheme after Mahatma Gandhi amid NREGA row

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee announces renaming state's rural job scheme after Mahatma Gandhi, criticizing the Centre's move to replace MGNREGA.

"If they can’t give respect to the Father of the Nation, we will. - Mamata Banerjee"

Kolkata, Dec 18

Criticising the BJP-led government at the Centre for seeking to replace the 20-year-old Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (MGNREGA) scheme with the VB-G RAM G scheme, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday announced that her government would rename its rural job guarantee programme after Mahatma Gandhi.

Speaking at a business and industry conclave at an auditorium in Kolkata, Chief Minister Banerjee, without naming the BJP, said that if "some political parties failed to show respect to our national icons", her government would step in to do so.

“I feel ashamed that they have decided to remove Mahatma Gandhi’s name from the NREGA programme because I too belong to this country. We are now forgetting even the Father of the Nation. If they can’t give respect to the Father of the Nation, we will. We will now rename the Karmashree scheme of our state after Mahatma Gandhi,” Banerjee said while addressing a packed Dhano Dhanyo auditorium.

The Chief Minister's announcement came after the Lok Sabha passed the Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill, which seeks to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005.

Under the 'Karmashree' scheme, the West Bengal government claims to provide up to 75 days of work to beneficiaries.

Banerjee said the state aims to increase the number of workdays under the ‘Karmashree’ scheme to 100 in the future.

"We have already created a large number of workdays under ‘Karmashree’, which we are running with our own resources. Even if central funds are stopped, we will ensure people get work. We are not beggars," she said.

The Chief Minister also slammed the Centre for stopping funds to West Bengal under the MGNREGA scheme for the last few years, which she said had caused great inconvenience to people in the state, especially those at the grassroots level.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
While I respect Mahatma Gandhi, isn't this just political one-upmanship? The real issue is whether people are getting work and wages on time. Renaming schemes doesn't put food on the plate. Focus should be on implementation, not names.
R
Rohit P
The stoppage of central funds for MGNREGA in Bengal is the bigger story here. Thousands of rural families have suffered for years. If the state can run its own scheme effectively with 75 (and hopefully 100) days of work, that's what matters most. Jai Hind!
M
Michael C
As an observer, the federal tensions in India are fascinating. The Chief Minister's statement "We are not beggars" is a strong assertion of state rights. The renaming is clearly a political counter-narrative to the central government's policy shift.
S
Shreya B
Gandhi ji's principles of self-reliance and village economy are the soul of NREGA. Removing his name feels like erasing that connection. Happy to see a state government standing up for that legacy. Hope the increased workdays materialize soon for the people.
K
Karthik V
VB-G RAM G, Karmashree... so many schemes with fancy names! At the end of the day, the common labourer just wants timely payment for an honest day's work. Less politics, more delivery, please. The name on the cheque doesn't matter if it bounces.

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