Accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Central government of weakening the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) by replacing it with Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB G-RAM-G), the Opposition Congress staged a gherao of the Chhattisgarh Assembly on Tuesday (March.

Senior party  leaders were present at  the protest over  changes in the employment guarantee scheme and local issues such as “electricity tariff hikes, betrayal of farmers, failure to fulfil promises regarding paddy procurement, rising gas cylinder prices, deteriorating law and order, and the cultivation and trade of narcotics within the State”.

Addressing the gathering, AICC general secretary in-charge of Chhattisgarh Sachin Pilot alleged that the Narendra Modi government at the Centre intended to discontinue the employment guarantee schemer. “Previously, 90% of the funds for the scheme  were disbursed by the Central governmenti. Now,  they have imposed a 60:40 funding ratio upon the States. Furthermore, the authority to take decisions regarding the execution of various projects — such as the construction of fields, threshing floors, wells, and ponds — has been taken away  from the gram panchayats,” he said.

Former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel alleged that while scheme  had enabled millions of families secure employment and the BJP was actively working to strip away these rights and deprive people of their rights and entitlements.

Earlier, Congress MLAs, including Mr. Baghel and Leader of the Opposition Charan Das Mahant, raised the issue inside the Assembly  and moved an adjournment motion. The adjournment motion was disallowed by the Chair following which the Congress MLAs staged a walkout.