‘Modi Govt Has Been Making Cuts In NREGA Budget Ever Since They Came To Power’: Mallikarjun Kharge

Kharge said the Central government’s intention is to see to it that the poor do not stand on their feet and live with self-respect.

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge. (File Photo)

New Delhi: Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, on Thursday alleged Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government has been making cuts in Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Act (MGNREGA) Budget ever since they came to power and said the ruling dispensation’s budget of Rs 1.10 lakh in 2020-21 has now come down to Rs 73,000 crore.

Kharge said the Central government’s intention is to see to it that the poor do not stand on their feet and live with self-respect.

“Modi government has been making cuts in NREGA Budget ever since they came to power. Their intention is to see to it that the poor do not stand on their feet and don't live with self-respect,” ANI quoted Kharge as saying.

Continuing his outburst, the Congress leader said the people returning to their homes during the Covid-19 pandemic are not able to get any work.

“When people are coming back to their homes at the time of the pandemic, they will search for work there. They are not getting any work. On the other hand, the budget went down too,” he said.

The Finance Ministry had earlier in November this year allocated Rs 10,000 crore as an interim measure for the rural employment guarantee scheme over and above the budgetary allocation,

The Central government had in its Union Budget earlier this year allocated Rs 73,000 crore to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act for the 2021-22 financial year.

The ruling dispensation had in the previous fiscal year revised the allocation to Rs 1.11 lakh crore from an initial allocation of Rs 61,500 crore.