YSR Congress Party MP YS Avinash Reddy on Wednesday called on the Union government to refer the proposed Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Bill (Gramin) to a Select Committee or a Joint Parliamentary Committee, asserting that deeper scrutiny is essential to protect the employment rights of crores of rural families.
Participating in the debate in the Lok Sabha, Avinash Reddy warned that the proposed legislation, which seeks to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), could weaken the statutory assurance of employment if passed without wider consultations.
MGNREGA as a Statutory Livelihood Guarantee
Highlighting the significance of MGNREGA, the YSRCP MP said the scheme has served as a critical safety net for rural India by guaranteeing wage employment as a legal right. He cautioned that any dilution of this statutory framework would create uncertainty among rural workers who depend on the programme for survival.
He noted that MGNREGA was not merely a welfare scheme but a legally enforceable right that ensured dignity, income security, and economic stability for rural households.
Concerns Over Shift in Financial Responsibility
Avinash Reddy drew attention to the proposed changes in the funding pattern under the new Bill. Under the existing MGNREGA framework, the Centre bears 90 percent of the expenditure while states contribute 10 percent. The new legislation proposes to reduce the Centre’s share to 60 percent and increase the state contribution to 40 percent.
He further pointed out that the Centre’s share would be reimbursed only after states deposit their full contribution upfront, placing a heavy financial burden on fiscally stressed states.
Increased Workdays May Remain on Paper
While the Bill proposes increasing guaranteed employment from 100 to 125 days, Avinash Reddy cautioned that this promise may remain theoretical. He cited Andhra Pradesh as an example, stating that the state’s average annual MGNREGA expenditure of around ₹8,000 crore would now require a state contribution of nearly ₹3,200 crore, an amount that is practically unviable.
He warned that without adequate financial support, states may be unable to implement the scheme effectively, rendering the increased workdays meaningless.
Call for Wider Consultation and Accountability
Stressing the need for consensus-building, Avinash Reddy reiterated his demand for the Bill to be referred to a Select Committee or Joint Parliamentary Committee involving state governments and local bodies. Such a process, he said, would ensure that the employment rights of the rural poor are protected rather than weakened.
He concluded that guaranteed employment must remain truly guaranteed, cautioning that policy changes without ground-level feasibility could undermine rural livelihood security.
