Centre’s move to rename employment scheme is unfortunate- CM Revanth Reddy!

Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy made strong remarks in the State Assembly on Friday over the Centre’s approach towards the National Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS). Participating in a discussion on the proposed changes and renaming of the scheme, the Chief Minister recalled that the programme was introduced by the UPA government in 2005 and implemented from February 2006. He stated that nearly 62 percent of beneficiaries belong to poor and backward sections, highlighting the scheme’s critical role in protecting livelihoods.

CM Revanth Reddy alleged that the Centre’s new decisions weaken the rights of the poor and adversely affect women workers. He expressed concern that the proposed changes would reduce the number of workdays and go against the spirit of cooperative federalism, particularly the alteration of the funding ratio to 60:40. Demanding the immediate restoration of Mahatma Gandhi’s name to the scheme, he urged the Centre to revive the old framework and continue the existing list of works. The Telangana Assembly, he said, would pass a resolution seeking the restoration of the original provisions of the scheme.