Chandigarh: The Punjab government has decided to convene a special session of the state Legislative Assembly in the second week of January to challenge the Centre’s proposal to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) with the Viksit Bharat Grameen Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission (VB-GRAMG).
Announcing the decision, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said the move by the BJP-led central government would directly impact the livelihoods of the rural poor. He described MGNREGA as a critical social security net for village households and warned that any attempt to dilute or replace the scheme would weaken employment security in rural areas.
Mann said the special Assembly session would be used to formally place Punjab’s opposition to the proposed change on record. He stressed that the state government would strongly defend the interests of rural workers who depend on guaranteed employment under MGNREGA.
The last special session of the Punjab Assembly, held on November 24, was formally adjourned by the Governor on December 17.
According to a report by The Tribune, the decision to convene another special session was finalised during a meeting of senior Aam Aadmi Party leaders on Thursday evening. The meeting was attended by AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, who is currently on a three-day visit to the state.
