Restore MGNREGA scheme, says Cong

Panaji: Congress on Sunday demanded that the Centre restore the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme, which was replaced by the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Gramin Act.The party held a day-long token hunger strike at Old Goa and Margao to protest against the Centre’s move.“Modi govt stole the rights of the poor which the MGNREGA gave to five to six crore families that were getting a livelihood. The schemes and laws formulated for the poor are slowly being wiped away by the Centre,” said AICC’s Goa in-charge Manikrao Thakare.Congress will extend the protest to the panchayats and the party block level over the week.“Modi govt changed the act that used to provide 100 days of employment to those who are looking for work. Our demand is that the rights that were given to the poor labourers through MGNREGA should be restored. Our demand is also that the Rs 350 that they were paid should be increased to Rs 400,” said state Congress president Amit Patkar.