Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has questioned the Centre’s reported decision to rename the MGNREGA scheme, citing unnecessary government expenditure and lack of clear benefits. The Union cabinet approved renaming it ‘Poojya Bapu Grameen Rozgar Yojna’ and increasing workdays. Opposition leaders also criticized the move as a distraction. NEW DELHI: Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday questioned the Centre’s reported decision to rename the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), arguing that the exercise would lead to unnecessary expenditure of government resources without delivering any clear benefit.Her remarks came a day after the Union cabinet approved a Bill to rename the scheme and increase the number of guaranteed workdays. According to these sources, MGNREGA will be renamed the ‘Poojya Bapu Grameen Rozgar Yojna’, with the annual work guarantee raised from 100 days to 125 days.Also read: Union Cabinet approves renaming MGNREGA as Pujya Bapu Gramin Rojgar YojnaSpeaking to reporters, Priyanka Gandhi said she could not understand the rationale behind changing the name of a flagship rural employment programme enacted in 2005. “I can’t understand what mentality is behind this. First, this is Mahatma Gandhi’s name, and when it is changed, the government’s resources are spent on it again. From offices to stationery, everything has to be renamed, so this is a big, costly process. So what’s the benefit of doing this unnecessarily? I can’t understand,” she said, as quoted by ANI.MGNREGA, also known as NREGA, is one of India’s largest social welfare schemes, aimed at enhancing livelihood security in rural areas. It guarantees at least 100 days of wage employment each financial year to rural households whose adult members volunteer for unskilled manual work. Any Indian citizen aged 18 or above and residing in a rural area can apply, with employment to be provided within 15 days. Wages are deposited directly into bank or post office accounts, with equal pay for men and women, and the scheme covers the entire country except fully urban districts.The proposed renaming has also drawn criticism from other opposition leaders. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi described the move as a “distraction” and accused the Centre of trying to divert public attention. “Because of the frustration, such decisions are being made. This is another way to distract attention,” she said, adding that those who know history “will always respect the Gandhi family for their contributions”.Chaturvedi also welcomed Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s call for a parliamentary discussion on air pollution, arguing that urgent issues affecting public health were being sidelined. Rahul Gandhi earlier urged all parties to work together to address what he described as a crisis destroying children’s futures, saying, “Most of our major cities are living under a blanket of poisonous air… This is not an ideological issue.”About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. 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The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosWhen Optics Fail: Top Five Global Moments That Turned Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif Into A Meme’No Free Lift For India’: PM Modi’s Chief Economic Adviser Says China Won’t Repeat West’s MistakeMessi Lands In Kolkata At 2.26am, City Erupts As GOAT India Tour Sparks Midnight Frenzy Scenes Now!’No Place For Tukde Tukde Slogans’: RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat Warns Against Divisive Language In IndiaIndia Speeds Up Visas For Chinese Businesses Amid Thaw In Ties; Beijing Calls It ‘Positive Move’India’s Ambassador To UNESCO Hails Inscription Of Diwali On Intangible Cultural Heritage ListPutin Keeps Sharif Waiting In Ashgabat, Desperate Pakistan PM Gate-Crashes Meeting With ErdoganIs Trump Planning A New Core-5 Superclub With India As Central Power? 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NEW DELHI: Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday questioned the Centre’s reported decision to rename the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), arguing that the exercise would lead to unnecessary expenditure of government resources without delivering any clear benefit.Her remarks came a day after the Union cabinet approved a Bill to rename the scheme and increase the number of guaranteed workdays. According to these sources, MGNREGA will be renamed the ‘Poojya Bapu Grameen Rozgar Yojna’, with the annual work guarantee raised from 100 days to 125 days.Also read: Union Cabinet approves renaming MGNREGA as Pujya Bapu Gramin Rojgar YojnaSpeaking to reporters, Priyanka Gandhi said she could not understand the rationale behind changing the name of a flagship rural employment programme enacted in 2005. “I can’t understand what mentality is behind this. First, this is Mahatma Gandhi’s name, and when it is changed, the government’s resources are spent on it again. From offices to stationery, everything has to be renamed, so this is a big, costly process. So what’s the benefit of doing this unnecessarily? I can’t understand,” she said, as quoted by ANI.MGNREGA, also known as NREGA, is one of India’s largest social welfare schemes, aimed at enhancing livelihood security in rural areas. It guarantees at least 100 days of wage employment each financial year to rural households whose adult members volunteer for unskilled manual work. Any Indian citizen aged 18 or above and residing in a rural area can apply, with employment to be provided within 15 days. Wages are deposited directly into bank or post office accounts, with equal pay for men and women, and the scheme covers the entire country except fully urban districts.The proposed renaming has also drawn criticism from other opposition leaders. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi described the move as a “distraction” and accused the Centre of trying to divert public attention. “Because of the frustration, such decisions are being made. This is another way to distract attention,” she said, adding that those who know history “will always respect the Gandhi family for their contributions”.Chaturvedi also welcomed Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s call for a parliamentary discussion on air pollution, arguing that urgent issues affecting public health were being sidelined. Rahul Gandhi earlier urged all parties to work together to address what he described as a crisis destroying children’s futures, saying, “Most of our major cities are living under a blanket of poisonous air… This is not an ideological issue.”
