Shimla: Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday, along with members of his Cabinet, staged a protest near the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at the Ridge, Shimla, opposing the Central Government’s decision to discontinue the MNREGA scheme.
Addressing those present, the Chief Minister termed the move deeply anti-rural and detrimental to the livelihood security of millions of rural families. He said MNREGA, conceived and implemented by the Congress-led UPA government under the leadership of former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, had been a cornerstone of rural employment and inclusive growth.
He pointed out that under the earlier framework, works under MNREGA were planned and executed based on the resolutions of Gram Panchayats and Gram Sabhas, reflecting local priorities and ensuring grassroots participation. However, the new mechanism sidelines Panchayats, as planning authority has been centralized and funds will now be allocated directly by the Centre, with projects notified for selected areas. He said the Congress Party would intensify its opposition by organizing protests at district and block levels across the State to expose the anti-people nature of the decision.
The Chief Minister said Himachal Pradesh would be among the worst affected. Earlier, the Central Government met the entire wage liability under MNREGA, while the State Government provided an additional incentive of Rs. 80 per day to workers. Under the revised arrangement, the Centre will bear only 90 percent of the wages, leaving the State to shoulder the remaining burden. He asserted that MNREGA must continue in its original spirit, driven by Panchayat demands and local development needs.
He further stated that salaries of officers and employees posted in Zila Parishads under MNREGA have also been discontinued, which would adversely impact the effective implementation of the scheme.
Responding to another query, the Chief Minister said the State Government was firmly opposed to the Central Government’s decision to reduce import duty on apples. He cautioned that the move would severely impact apple growers in Himachal Pradesh and assured that the matter would be strongly taken up with the Centre to protect the interests of orchardists.
Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, HPCC President Vinay Kumar, Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan, Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi, Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh, Technical Education Minister Rajesh Dharmani, AYUSH Minister Yadvinder Goma, Congress Co-incharge Chetan Chauhan, MLAs Chander Shekhar and Anuradha Rana, Political Advisor to the Chief Minister Sunil Sharma, Principal Advisor (Media) Naresh Chauhan, Mayor Surinder Chauhan, Deputy Mayor Uma Kaushal, councilors, chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of various boards and corporations and senior Congress leaders were present on the occasion.
