MGNREGA Architect Jean Drèze Demands Rollback of New Job Guarantee Act VB-G-Ram-G

Ranchi: Noted economist and one of the architects of MGNREGA, Jean Drèze, on Tuesday demanded roll back of VB-G-Ram-G, the new job guarantee act brought by the Centre, stating that it would do more harm than good to states like Jharkhand.

The new Act would rob, rather than create, rural jobs and result in centralisation of every decision at the level of Union govt, he added.Drèze, along with members of Jharkhand MGNREGA watch and job rights activists, demanded that state govt must bring in a resolution in the assembly against the new act and work towards strengthening of the existing rural job scheme.“Going by the entire provisions of VB-G-Ram-G, we can conclude that all the rights and capacity will be fixed by the Union govt.

State will hardly have any share but own up the wage burden of 40% ratio. Centre will decide where and when to implement schemes under the law, kind of schemes to be taken up, focuss on 60 days of discontinuation during monsoon,” he said.“Many MGNREGA works are done in monsoon to boost horticulture, which has improved lives of poor farmers. What will happen to them? In nutshell, I think, it will lead to more distress for people in states like Jharkhand where issues of migration is more,” he said,“We will focus on sensitising workers and other stakeholders at grassroots level on the pros and cons of the new Act that is likely to be rolled out in next six months,” he added.

State convenor of NREGA Watch, James Herenj, said they would have welcomed if Centre came up with provisions to further improve existing law rather than try to repeal it completely.“Under MGNREGA, on an average out of mandatory 100 days, govts could provide maximum jobs up to 23 days in last 20 years. How will Centre give jobs to 125 days? It won’t be practically possible when there is a clause of mandatory 60 days moratorium on it.

There are many other provisions in the new Act which will deter states to take up the scheme,” he said.“Series of protests, seminars to create awareness will be held in coming months to create momentum to force GOI for rollback,” he said.Another activist, Balram added, “Jharkhand’s Tribes Advisory Council should recommend proposal against the new Act and state should adopt it as per the provisions enshrined in the constitution in states having scheduled areas. The new Act will lead to poverty due to lack of rural jobs, hunger issues.”