Last Updated on December 27, 2025 11:41 pm by INDIAN AWAAZ
Sudhir Kumar / New Delhi
Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today criticised the Congress, alleging that the party had included the name of Mahatma Gandhi in the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005 only for electoral gains.
Talking to reporters, Mr Chouhan said, during the Congress government, MGNREGA became synonymous with corruption. He said the Congress party had repeatedly reduced the MGNREGA budget.
The Minister said that a proposed budget of over one lakh 51 thousand crore rupees has been allocated to ensure that labourers get sufficient work. He said, for a Viksit Bharat, the focus is on developing villages, where all development work will be carried out by the Gram Panchayat.
The Minister highlighted that under MGNREGA, the UPA government had spent only two lakh 13 thousand crore rupees, while the Narendra Modi government spent over eight lakh 53 thousand crore rupees.
He said, under the Viksit Bharat: G RAM G scheme, it has been decided that decisions will no longer be made in Delhi, but at the village level. He said, Gram Panchayats will sit together and prepare their own development plans.
The Minister said, under this scheme, employment has not been reduced but further strengthened. He emphasised that the number of guaranteed workdays has been increased from 100 to 125 days.
Mr Chouhan also highlighted that there is a provision for unemployment allowance in the new act, if work is not provided within the stipulated time. He said that the powers of the Gram Sabha and Panchayats are being further strengthened and not weakened.
Mr Chouhan emphasised that the new Act makes social audits mandatory and places special focus on the active participation of women, self-help groups, and the community. He said that special arrangements have been made to ensure that the most backward Panchayats receive more funds, greater support, and enhanced opportunities.
The Minister added that special focus has been placed on sustainable income generation through transparent and timely payments, asset creation, and livelihood-linked works.