Revanth recalls MNREGA scheme’s affinity with Telugus at CWC Meet

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy recalled the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme’s deep association with Telugu people and Telangana and pitched for a sustained political fight against the BJP-led Union government over the ‘dilution’ of the scheme.

Participating in the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting in New Delhi, Mr. Reddy said the rural employment programme had a special place in the hearts of people of erstwhile combined Andhra Pradesh, as it was launched in the combined State by former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. He noted that the scheme symbolised the dignity of labour and provided employment assurance to the poorest sections in rural India. Mr. Reddy also reportedly pointed out that recent policy shifts will increase the financial burden on State governments, while the Centre was trying to evade its responsibility towards a flagship social security scheme.

The MGNREGA, initially launched as the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), was formally rolled out in 2006 by then Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh from Bandlapalli village in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh. The Chief Minister returned to Hyderabad late on Friday night after attending the meeting