G Ram G Bill row: Mamata renames Bengal job guarantee scheme after Mahatma Gandhi

Mamata Banerjee

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said her government would rename its rural job guarantee programme after Mahatma Gandhi. She slammed the BJP-led government at the Centre for seeking to replace the 20-year-old MNREGA with the VB-G RAM G scheme.

Speaking at a business and industry conclave, Banerjee said if some political parties "failed to show respect to our national icons, we will do it", without directly naming the BJP.

Her announcement came as the Lok Sabha passed the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee For Rozgar And Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill that seeks to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (MGNREGA).

"I feel ashamed that they have decided to remove Mahatma Gandhi's name from the NREGA programme, because I too belong to this country. We are now forgetting even the Father of the Nation," Banerjee said at the Dhana Dhanya auditorium, addressing the business meet. "We will now rename the Karmashree scheme of our state after Mahatma Gandhi."

Under the 'Karmashree' scheme, the government claims to provide up to 75 days of work to beneficiaries, despite what Banerjee described as the Centre blocking funds under the MGNREGS.

The CM said the state aims to increase the number of workdays under 'Karmashree' to 100 in the future.

"We have already created lots of workdays under 'Karmashree', which we are running with our own resources. Even if central funds are stopped, we will ensure people get work. We are not beggars," she said.

Her remarks and the move to rename Bengal's job guarantee scheme comes after the Lok Sabha passed the passed the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), or the VB-G RAM G Bill, on Thursday. The VB-G RAM G Bill seeks to replace the UPA-era MGNREGA that guarantees employment in rural areas.