Karnataka will need Rs 20,000 crore in five years for new rural job scheme: Priyank Kharge

Bengaluru: Karnataka will have to spend about Rs 20,000 crore over five years to implement the Union government's new rural employment scheme, Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge said on Saturday, slamming the Modi administration for not consulting states before introducing the new law. 

The Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act, which replaces the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), requires states to bear 40% of funding. Earlier, the Centre bore the full cost. 

“There’s an unnecessary burden being placed on states. Every year, we’ll have to pay Rs 3,000-4,000 crore. That means about Rs 20,000 crore over five years,” Priyank said at a news conference, adding that the burden on states was not discussed with the 16th Finance Commission. 

“You want Kannadigas to fulfill your Viksit Bharat dream. But what will Kannadigas get? Chombu (empty vessel),” Priyank said. 

“In the last 2.5 years, about 17 lakh village-level assets were created by panchayats under the MGNREGA and 80 lakh households were provided with livelihoods. We spent Rs 21,144 crore,” Priyank said. 

The new VB-G Ram G law curtails the rights of both workers and panchayats, Priyank said. 

“Under the MGNREGA, one could work throughout the year.  Under the new law, however, there won’t be any work for 60 days during peak agriculture season, citing shortage of farm labour,” Priyank said. “What data do they [Union government] have to say that there’s a shortage of agricultural labour?” 

The new law moves towards “contractor-led” projects, he charged. “The Bill also says that works must be aligned with the master plans of PM Gati Shakti, which deals with only big projects. What about small village-level works?” he asked.

“In the last 19-20 years, the rural employment guarantee scheme provided livelihoods, which the Modi administration has snatched,” the minister said.

“An NREGA job card gave me the right to seek employment anywhere in the country. But now, the scheme has gone from demand-based to supply-based,” he said, claiming that the Centre will eventually roll back the VB-G RAM G law.