Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said her government would rename its rural job guarantee scheme after Mahatma Gandhi, and slammed the BJP-led Centre for seeking to replace the 20-year-old MGNREGA with the VB-G RAM G scheme.
Speaking at a business and industry conclave here, Banerjee said if some political parties “failed to show respect to our national icons, we will do it”, without directly naming the BJP.
Her announcement came as the Lok Sabha passed the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee For Rozgar And Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill that seeks to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (MGNREGA).
“I feel ashamed that they have decided to remove Mahatma Gandhi’s name from the NREGA programme, because I too belong to this country. Are we now forgetting even the Father of the Nation?” Banerjee asked at the Dhana Dhanya auditorium, addressing the business meet.
“We will now rename the Karmashree scheme of our state after Mahatma Gandhi, because if they can’t show respect to our national heroes, we will. We know how to honour our national icon Mahatma ji and others like Netaji, Tagore, Nazrul, Ambedkar, Maulana Azad, Sardar Patel and Rajendra Prasad,” she added.
Stating that India’s political and religious leaders have universally vouched for brotherhood and harmony, the chief minister directed her criticism towards policies pursued by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“I want a long life for our Prime Minister, but I am sorry to say, please don’t do anything wrong which may lead to a backlash or a befitting reply in future. Please remember, our country will remain strong only if we remain as one. If we are divided as communities, our nation will be divided.”
Division is not the solution to the problems; peace, harmony, friendship and humanity are, she said.
Under the ‘Karmashree’ scheme, the government claims to provide up to 75 days of work to beneficiaries, despite what Banerjee described as the Centre blocking funds under the MGNREGS.
The CM said the state aims to increase the number of workdays under ‘Karmashree’ to 100 in the future.
“We have already created lots of workdays under ‘Karmashree’, which we are running with our own resources. Even if central funds are stopped, we will ensure people get work. We are not beggars,” she said.
