Hyderabad: A cabinet sub-committee, headed by irrigation minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy to examine the implications of the VB G Ram G Act , met on Sunday and favoured adopting a cautious and critical approach towards the Centre’s rural employment and livelihood legislation.The committee held its first meeting at the secretariat and expressed serious concerns over several provisions of the proposed legislation, which members felt could adversely affect Telangana’s interests and weaken protections available to vulnerable rural communities.
During the deliberations, the committee explored various options for formally conveying the state’s dissent over what it described as significant omissions and commissions in the proposed framework that seeks to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) with the VB-G RAM G Act from July 1.Members observed that some provisions of the proposed legislation could dilute the role of state govts in planning and implementing employment guarantee programmes while increasing financial liabilities on the states. The committee noted that Telangana’s rural poor could be placed at a disadvantage in accessing employment opportunities and livelihood support under the new framework.The members also reviewed concerns raised by several non-BJP-ruled states and certain north-eastern states regarding the additional financial burden that might arise from the implementation of the proposed legislation. It was pointed out that some states, including Himachal Pradesh, have not yet accepted the new framework.The committee is expected to recommend a series of amendments to safeguard the interests of workers, self-help groups, rural households, small and marginal farmers, and other vulnerable sections. It is also likely to stress the need for states to retain adequate flexibility in designing and implementing programmes suited to local socio-economic conditions.Telangana govt’s response is expected to emphasise the principles of cooperative federalism, greater fiscal support from the Centre, and stronger safeguards for rural livelihoods. The cabinet sub-committee preferred formally communicating state’s concerns and recommendations to the Union govt after finalising its report.Speaking at the meeting, minister Uttam Kumar Reddy said the rural employment guarantee programme MGNREGA was conceived during the UPA govt and termed it as one of the most successful social protection programmes in independent India. The scheme was the brainchild of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and had become a model for rural employment and social security, he claimed.The minister strongly criticised the removal of Mahatma Gandhi’s name from the programme, terming it an unfortunate and unnecessary but politically motivated move. Several farmer and labour organisations across the country had voiced opposition to the move, Uttam said and reiterated Telangana govt’s demand that the Centre withdraw the proposed VB-G RAM G Act and restore the MGNREGA framework.Panchayat raj and rural development minister Danasari Anasuya (Seethakka), agriculture minister Tummala Nageswara Rao, and labour and employment minister G Vivek Venkatswamy participated in the meeting virtually.
