Tamil Nadu Assembly passed a resolution opposing the Centre’s plan to rename MGNREGA, warning of financial strain and rural impact. Will the Union government heed the state’s plea to retain Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy in the scheme?
The resolution urged the Union government to retain Mahatma Gandhi’s name for the scheme
Chennai: The Tamil Nadu Assembly on Friday passed a resolution moved by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin opposing the Centre’s proposal to rename the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
The resolution urged the Union government to retain Mahatma Gandhi’s name for the scheme, while ensuring adequate and continuous allocation of funds based on actual employment demand and state-wise performance.
Stalin highlighted that the programme safeguards the “Right to Work” for rural citizens, particularly benefiting women, persons with disabilities, and Scheduled Castes and Tribes. The resolution criticised the Centre for “arbitrary fund allocations based on notional estimates” and called for a return to the previous system where funds were released according to real demand.
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The resolution also objected to the proposed increase in Tamil Nadu’s share of funding to 40 percent under the renamed scheme, Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025 (VB-G-RAM-G). The state warned that such a move could strain finances and negatively impact rural livelihoods.
Following the passage of the resolution, Tamil Nadu BJP chief K. Annamalai attacked Chief Minister Stalin on X, accusing the DMK government of failing to fulfil election promises and politicising Centre-State issues.
He claimed less than 10 percent of DMK assurances had been implemented, citing delays in infrastructure projects, AIIMS Madurai construction, law and order, the MGNREGA workday promise, and other development initiatives.
Annamalai added that the Centre had already released disaster funds, AIIMS Madurai is set to open this year, and the Union government had clarified that southern states would not lose constituencies. He urged Stalin to focus on governance instead of political confrontations.
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The resolution was passed amid a tense political atmosphere in the Assembly. During the inaugural session of the year, Governor R.N. Ravi refused to read out the DMK-prepared text citing “inaccuracies” and walked out. Stalin accused the Governor of disregarding constitutional provisions and said the DMK would explore a constitutional amendment in Parliament if such incidents persisted.
Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami said the AIADMK was denied the chance to raise pressing public issues, including farmers’ distress, poultry sector challenges, and the chikungunya outbreak, during Zero Hour.
The passage of the resolution comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Tamil Nadu, with Stalin reiterating his objections to the Centre’s proposed changes to the rural employment scheme.
