Jairam Thakur called Congress's opposition baseless
Jagran correspondent, Mandi. Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur has made a scathing attack on the Sukhu government of Himachal in a press conference in Mandi. He defended the 'Developed India Employment Guarantee Mission' (VVG Ram Ji Act 2025) and termed Congress's opposition to the name change as baseless.
'Congress changed the name of the scheme several times'
Jairam Thakur said that the opposition is making noise about changing the name, whereas Congress had also changed the names of many schemes during its rule. Congress had first named Jawahar Rozgar in 1989 and Jawahar Rozgar Samriddhi Yojana in 1999, Sampoorna Gramin Rozgar Yojana in 2001 and NREGA in 2006 and then MNREGA in 2009.
If name changes took place even during the Congress period, then why protest now? The name has changed, there has been no change in the concept. The aim of 'Developed India Employment Guarantee Mission' is only to provide employment.
Comparison of budget and expenditure of MNREGA
The Leader of Opposition praised the efforts of the Modi government while comparing the budget and expenditure of MNREGA and talked about ensuring transparency through digital payments. Jairam Thakur said, "In 2006, there was a budget provision of Rs 11,300 crore for the Employment Guarantee Scheme, whereas in 2014, a budget provision of Rs 33,000 crore was made."
Jairam Thakur said that during the first government, PM Modi gave a budget of Rs 44000 crore for this scheme. Modi government made a provision of Rs 90000 crore in 2022-23. UPA spent only Rs 2 lakh crore from 2006 to 2014 for the Employment Guarantee Scheme, whereas the Modi government spent Rs 8 lakh 53 thousand crore in 10 years.
Answer on stopping MNREGA payment
Jairam Thakur also replied to the question of stopping MNREGA payment. He said that noise is being made about non-payment of MNREGA. That payment has been stopped because his money is being spent elsewhere.
He said that earlier there was a provision of giving unemployment allowance for 15 days after applying, otherwise it could not be received on time. But this time it has been ensured. Now this scheme will run in digital mode, so that everyone will keep an eye on it.