Bengaluru, Feb. 23 -- Framing the rural jobs issue as a threat to "55 crore livelihoods," the Congress on Monday alleged that the BJP-led Centre has undermined the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), calling it an assault on nearly half of India's population dependent on the scheme.
Speaking to reporters, senior Congress leader Randeep Surjewala said the rural employment programme - Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act - remains the lifeline of 11 crore registered workers across the country.
"MNREGA is the life support system of 11 crore workers. If you add four members per family, nearly 55 crore people depend on it. By dismantling and weakening NREGA, the government has effectively taken a...