"Centre has gradually weakened MGNREGA scheme": Congress' Deepender Hooda

New Delhi [India], December 27 (ANI): Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda on Saturday accused the Central government of systematically weakening the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act and announced that the party will launch a nationwide campaign from January to protect the scheme and the rights of people dependent on it.
Speaking to reporters in the national capital, Hooda said the Central government had dealt a "major blow" to MGNREGA by withdrawing even its own share of contribution, impacting millions of beneficiaries across the country.
"The MGNREGA scheme has been gradually weakened by this government. The central government has dealt a major blow to the MGNREGA scheme by withdrawing even its own share of contribution. People across the country are connected to MGNREGA, and the Congress Party will come forward to protect their rights," Hooda said.
He added that the Congress would launch a nationwide campaign beginning in January to safeguard the legislation enacted during the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.
"We will launch a nationwide campaign starting from January to safeguard the law that was enacted during the UPA government," the Congress leader said.
The Congress leader's remarks came after President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday gave assent to the Viksit Bharat--Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB--G RAM G) Bill, 2025, marking a significant milestone in the transformation of rural employment policy.
Commenting on discussions at the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, Hooda also raised concerns about the Aravalli mountain range, noting that the issue affects multiple states and has national environmental implications.
"The Aravalli issue is connected to four states. On this matter today, we want to warn the government that the people's understanding of the government's intentions has become clear. The government wanted to sacrifice the Aravalli to corruption," he alleged.
Hooda further said that the issue should not be viewed as limited to Rajasthan alone, asserting that environmental degradation affects the entire country. "Some people in the government think that this is only Rajasthan's issue. The youth of the entire country are angry about their future and the future generations," he added. (ANI)