India’s parliament passes a new rural jobs scheme, replacing MNREGA, amid opposition walkout and protests over funding and control changes
NEW DELHI: India’s parliament has passed a contentious overhaul of the national rural employment scheme after a marathon session.
The Developed India Employment Guarantee and Sustenance Mission bill was approved despite an opposition walkout and debate stretching past midnight.
It replaces the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA), a flagship programme of the previous Congress-led government.
The old scheme guaranteed 100 days of paid work annually to any rural household that requested it, with around 160 million households registered last year.
The new programme increases the guarantee to 125 days per household but fundamentally changes how it is funded and administered.
Unlike the previous demand-driven model, the government will now allocate a fixed annual budget and dictate job availability in advance.
It also shifts 40% of the financial burden to state governments, with work allocation decisions centralised in New Delhi.
Opposition lawmaker John Brittas of the Communist Party of India-Marxist criticised the move.
“A legal employment guarantee is reduced to a centrally managed publicity scheme at the expense of states,” he said.
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party defended the changes as a modernisation of the existing framework.
It said wages will now be paid weekly or fortnightly instead of upon project completion, ensuring a steadier income flow.
Some opposition lawmakers staged an overnight sit-in outside parliament in protest against the bitter cold.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party holds a majority in both houses, ensuring the bill’s comfortable passage.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi pledged continued resistance to the law.
“We will stand with workers, panchayats, and states to defeat this move and build a nationwide front to ensure this law is withdrawn,” he said in a social media statement. – AFP
