As soon as a new bill related to MNREGA was introduced in the Lok Sabha during the winter session of Parliament on Tuesday, the stir in the political circles intensified. As soon as the proposal to change the name and form of the country’s biggest rural scheme, which guarantees employment, came forward, the opposition termed it as ‘change the name policy’ of the government, while the government called it the need of a changing India. In fact, this debate is not limited to just one scheme, but is part of a broader political and ideological change in which many old schemes, roads, institutions and laws have been given new names and new identities in the last decade.
Congress and other opposition parties It is alleged that the Modi government changed the names of more than 25 schemes and projects started during the UPA regime or introduced them under new brands. Congress says that this is not just an exercise to change the name, but an attempt to erase the political legacy. The government argues that along with the name, the scope, target and functioning of the schemes have also been changed, hence the new name is natural.
Political conflict over new incarnation of MNREGA
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, commonly known as MNREGA, was started in 2005 during the UPA government. This scheme gives legal guarantee of 100 days of employment every year to rural families. Now the Modi government has introduced it in the form of a new law ‘Developed India-Guarantee for Employment and Livelihood Mission’ i.e. VBG RAM G. The government claims that under this new law, rural families will get guaranteed work for 125 days and the focus will not be limited to wages but will be on rural infrastructure, water security and livelihood and climate-friendly development. The opposition is calling it tampering with the soul of MNREGA, while the government is linking it to the vision of ‘Developed India 2047’.
Names of 28 schemes of UPA changed?
The opposition alleges that the Modi government has changed the names of 28 schemes in the last 14 years. Let us know about those schemes of the Congress government whose names have changed till now:-
From Indira Awas Yojana to Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana
Indira Awas Yojana, started in 1985 with the aim of providing permanent houses to the poor, was a major social scheme during the UPA regime. In the year 2016, Modi government changed its name to Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. It was implemented in two parts as PMAY-G for rural areas and PMAY-Urban for urban areas. The government says that under the goal of ‘Housing for All’, major changes were made in the financial and technical structure of this scheme, hence a new name was necessary.
JNNURM to AMRUT MISSION
Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, started in 2005 to improve the infrastructure of cities, was an important scheme of the UPA government. In 2015, its name was changed to Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation i.e. AMRUT. According to the government, this change was made keeping in mind the new goals and priorities of urban development.
Changed name of Rajiv Gandhi Rural Electrification Scheme
Rajiv Gandhi Rural Electrification Scheme was started in 2005 to provide electricity to rural areas. In 2015, Modi government changed its name to Deendayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti Yojana. The government claims that under this scheme, special attention was given to strengthening the distribution infrastructure and 24×7 power supply.
Clean India Mission from Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan
To promote rural cleanliness, the UPA government had started Nirmal Gram Puraskar and Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan. In 2014, Modi government gave it a new name and new identity as Swachh Bharat Mission. In this mission, along with villages, cities were also included and an attempt was made to give it the form of a mass movement.
Read this also :- MNREGA ended, money rules changed in new employment scheme, good days will come for farmers!
New name of National Rural Livelihood Mission
National Rural Livelihood Mission was launched in 2011 to economically empower poor rural women through self-help groups. In the year 2016, its name was changed to Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana, National Rural Livelihood Mission. The government says that the scheme was redesigned keeping the principle of Antyodaya at the center.
From food security to poor welfare
Under the National Food Security Act 2013, about 81 crore people were guaranteed food grains at cheap prices. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the Modi government implemented the free grain scheme under the name ‘Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana’ and gave it a separate identity.
Widespread impact of name change policy
Apart from the schemes, Modi government and BJP ruled states have also changed the names of roads, buildings and institutions. Rajpath was changed to duty path, Race Course Road to the Prime Minister’s residence was named Lok Kalyan Marg and Raj Bhavans came to be known as Lok Bhavan. Along with this, Indian names like Indian Judicial Code and Indian Civil Defense Code were adopted in place of colonial laws like IPC and CrPC.
Read this also :- In the last 5 years, no state has provided full 100 days of work under MNREGA, see state wise figures.
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