Chandigarh, Dec 17: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday took a swipe at the Centre over its proposed rural employment scheme VB-G RAM G, saying governance should focus on delivering results rather than changing names.
Referring to the proposed bill that seeks to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, Mann said the government appeared more interested in renaming institutions than addressing people’s needs.
“Change will come by doing work, not by changing names,” Mann said.
He said the BJP-led government had renamed railway stations and cities and was now attempting to rebrand welfare schemes. “Earlier, cities were renamed. Now schemes are being renamed. What difference does the name make if work is not happening?” he said.
Citing examples of renamed cities, Mann said people care about employment and development, not labels. “You may call it Prayagraj or Allahabad, but people want jobs and work to be done,” he said.
The chief minister also mocked what he described as an obsession with renaming. “What is left now—changing the name of the country?” he asked.
Mann said rural employment schemes should focus on strengthening livelihoods and ensuring timely wages instead of being repackaged. “People judge governments by their work on the ground,” he said.
The Centre has proposed VB-G RAM G as a replacement for MGNREGA, a move that has drawn criticism from opposition parties who argue the existing scheme should be strengthened rather than rebranded.
