“Bapu humare shradha hai, humare Adarsh hain, prerna hain, humara vishwas hain (Bapu is our reverence, preferrred, inspiration and religion,” the Rural Improvement and Agriculture Minister mentioned.

The Opposition and activists have severely criticised the brand new laws for upending the demand-driven framework of the MGNREGA, by eradicating its universality, centralizing decision-making and growing the monetary burden on state governments.

Attacking the Congress’ “doublespeak” on Gandhi, Chouhan mentioned it has by no means bothered with the teachings of Bapu.

In 1947, after Independence, Gandhi wished the Congress to be disbanded, he mentioned. However with the intention to latch on to energy, he claimed, Jawaharlal Nehru didn’t heed to his recommendation, and “killed” his rules for the primary time.

The Congress “murdered” Gandhi after they agreed to the partition of India, Chouhan alleged, including that it killed his rules after they gave particular standing to Kashmir, and when Indira Gandhi imposed the Emergency.

Whereas the Opposition has made a “hue and cry” about eradicating Gandhi’s identify from the brand new scheme, the UPA authorities had solely added his identify to the NREGA scheme earlier than the 2009 elections for votes in his identify, he claimed.

Furthermore, it was the Modi authorities that really carried out the scheme after it got here to energy in 2014, the minister mentioned.

Calling the Congress “hypocritical”, Chouhan mentioned that from 2006-07 to 2013-14, 1660 crore employment days have been assured beneath the scheme. This determine, he mentioned, rose to three,210 crore employment days beneath the Modi authorities. Whereas the UPA spent Rs 2.13 lakh crore beneath the scheme, it swelled to Rs 8.53 lakh crore within the Modi rule.

In the course of the pandemic in 2020-21 and 2021-22, the Centre sharply elevated the price range allocations for MGNREGS to report ranges—practically Rs 1.10 lakh crore and 96,000 crore, respectively, with the intention to meet enormous demand as rural employees returned to villages amidst lockdowns and job losses in cities.

Chouhan added that feminine employment elevated from 48 p.c to 56 p.c.

Amid loud slogans of ‘We Need MGNREGA’ by the Opposition, Chouhan claimed the scheme had been made one laden with corruption, and due to this fact, wanted overhauling.

“The funds between completely different states have been unequal. It was essential to offer everybody a justifiable share,” he mentioned. Underneath the scheme, whereas 60 p.c was allotted for labour, the remaining 40 p.c was left for labour. “As a result of the cash for labour comes solely from the Centre, most cash was spent on labour. Some states spent 26 p.c on materials, some simply 19-20 p.c,” he mentioned. “MGNREGA was solely made corrupt.”

Furthermore, the UPA decreased the price range from Rs 40,000 crore to Rs 35,000 crore, he mentioned. In distinction, he mentioned, the Modi authorities elevated it to Rs 1.10 lakh crore. Underneath the brand new scheme, Rs 1,51,282 crore was allotted, of which the Centre alone would give Rs 95,000 crore. This, Chouhan mentioned, is just not the final word determine, as the federal government will enhance the allocation when wanted.

As Opposition MPs flung copies of the Invoice in air, Chouhan mentioned that the Congress didn’t take away poverty as said by means of Indira’s slogan ‘Garibi Hatao’, however as an alternative eliminated the poor.

Whereas the Opposition spoke a lot in regards to the new scheme, it additionally “unnecessarily dragged” the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) into the dialogue, Chouhan mentioned.

“I need to say on this nice Parliament that the Sangh believes in character-building (vyakti nirman)… Not for itself, but when there may be any organisation that has constructed a complete equipment for the sake of the society, it’s the RSS,” he claimed.

Mounting a powerful protection of Hindutva, Chouhan mentioned, “Dharma ki jai ho, adharma ka naash ho, praaniyon mein sadbhavana ho, Vishwa ka kalyan ho—yeh Hindutva hai (Could righteousness triumph and evil be destroyed; could there be goodwill amongst all beings, could the world prosper—that is Hindutva).”