Chennai: Tamil Nadu assembly on Friday adopted a resolution urging for the continuation of the rural employment guarantee scheme to be named after Mahatma Gandhi.“With various intentions, the name of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi has been removed and this scheme has been renamed as Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission-Gramin (VB G Ram G). The scheme should continue to be named after Mahatma Gandhi in remembrance of the principles laid down and the path he had shown for the nation,” the resolution said.
The resolution wanted uninterrupted fund flow under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005 (MGNREGA) and to drop its proposed discretionary “intent-based assessment” mechanism, which would ‘severely hit rural livelihoods and undermine federalism’. Moving the resolution, chief minister M K Stalin said the proposed change to VB G RAM G would be harmful to the financial autonomy of local bodies and the state’s overall fiscal health. It would jeopardise the livelihood of nearly 74 lakh active workers from 65 lakh households in TN, 85% of whom are women, he said.Stalin urged that annual allocations should not be lower than previous years’ to safeguard the livelihoods of women, SCs, STs and persons with disabilities, while ensuring social security.Stalin said TN implemented both state and centrally sponsored schemes efficiently, earning repeated praise from Union ministries. “Despite this, the Union govt continues its policy of betraying Tamil Nadu,” he said, accusing it of deliberately delaying fund releases and subjecting the state to “step-motherly treatment”. Highlighting pending dues, the CM said the Centre is yet to release 1,026cr towards wages and 1,087cr towards material components under MGNREGA for 2025–26. DMK allies supported the resolution. AIADMK deputy leader of the opposition R B Udhayakumar termed it “politically motivated.” He said the 2005 scheme needed periodic modifications, though the AIADMK opposed its renaming. BJP MLAs were absent since they were at PM Modi’s rally, while AIADMK members remained silent during the voice vote.Speaker M Appavu declared that the resolution was passed “unanimously”. Stalin then too k a dig at AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, who had gone to receive the Prime Minister. “I hope he raises this issue with the PM for the welfare of our rural people,” he said.
