Durai Vaiko flays Governor Ravi for remarks on MGNREGS

MDMK's Durai Vaiko takes exception to Gov. R.N. Ravi's reported suggestion to do away with MGNREGS, alleging BJP govt. expressed desire through Governors. Scheme has benefited rural poor & SC/STs; reduction in funds creates uncertainty over livelihood. 16cr workers registered; ₹2.7L cr needed, but only ₹60K cr allotted. BJP's approach will destroy livelihood of crores; policies caused unprecedented unemployment. Stiglitz said scheme was progressive & model for all countries.

MDMK headquarters secretary Durai Vaiko took exception to Governor R.N. Ravi’s reported suggestion to do away with the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), alleging that the BJP government had expressed its desire through Governors, who were puppets of the government.

In a statement, he said the scheme had benefited rural poor and women belonging belonging to the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe, and the reduction in the fund for the scheme had created an uncertainty over their livelihood. “A total of 16 crore workers have registered under the scheme. It requires around ₹2.7 lakh crore to provide them employment. But the BJP government has allotted ₹60,000 crore, which is 21% less than the required amount,” he said.

He further said that the BJP government’s approach towards the scheme would destroy the livelihood of crores of people. Its policies have caused an unprecedented increase in unemployment. Unless the BJP gives up its stand on the rural employment scheme, it will the people’s fury,” he added.

He also recalled the words of Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz, who said the scheme was a progressive measure and a model for all counties.