In his tweet, Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge says, “Modi government is trying to end MNREGA, the lifeline of the poor.

Modi government has now fixed the limit of MNREGA expenditure at 60 percent for the first 6 months of the year. Cutting down MNREGA, which ensures the legal right of the ‘RIGHT TO WORK’ under the Constitution, is a crime against the Constitution. Our 5 questions – • Is the Modi government doing this only because it wants to snatch about 25,000 crore from the pockets of the poor, which it has to spend separately in the next financial year every year, if the demand increases by the end of the year? • Since MNREGA is a demand-driven scheme, what will happen if there is a short-term increase in demand during the first half in case of disasters or adverse weather conditions? Will imposing such a limit not harm the poor who depend on MNREGA for their livelihood? • What will happen if the limit is crossed? Will states be forced to refuse employment despite the demand, or will workers have to work without timely payment? • Is it not true that according to a recent report, only 7 percent of the families have received the promised 100 days of work? (Lib Tech, till May 21) Why were nearly 7 crore registered workers excluded from MNREGA on the condition of AADHAAR Based Payment? • Why was the MNREGA budget allocated the lowest in the total budget in 10 years? Why is the anti-poor Modi government hell-bent on oppressing MNREGA workers? The axe that is run to stop spending on MNREGA is a severe blow dealt by the Modi government on the lives of every poor! The Congress Party will vehemently oppose this. We are firm on our two demands – • First, a minimum wage of400 per day should be fixed for MNREGA workers. • Second, they should get work for at least 150 days in a year.