Karnataka Prantha Krishi Koolikarara Sangha (KPKKS), an agricultural labourers’ organisation affiliated to All India Agricultural Workers Union, criticised the Union government for its attempt to “weaken” the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarentee Act (MGNREGA).
Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, KPKKS State president Nityananda Swamy said that the Modi government was weakening MGNREGA by cutting the aid and reducing its application to lesser area.
“The Union government has cut MGNREGA aid to States by 50 per cent. The scheme, which was applicable to all 6,576 taluks in the country, is going to be confined to only 2,500 backward taluks. While people are demanding the extension of the scheme to urban areas, the government is withdrawing it from the existing rural areas,” he said.
The existing wages and material cost ratio of 60:40, he added, is being restructured to 51:49.
While increase in material cost would lead to increased corruption and thus benefit the contractor at the end, Mr. Swamy said.
Development model
Mr. Swamy criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s development model as “pro-imperialist”, by stating that the Prime Minister was more concerned about international capitalists than about the toiling masses in his own country.
Ordinance opposed
Mr. Swamy opposed the Union government’s Land Acquisition Ordinance by stating that it would go against the interests of the farmers.
