In this episode of The Editorial, Mr. Sujit Nair discusses a report revealing that, in the past five months, 39 lakh names of workers registered under MGNREGA have been “deleted.” Mr. Nair questions why issues consistently arise regarding MGNREGA. He outlines three main reasons behind the Centre's actions with the scheme. Additionally, he briefly touches on the availability of funds for freebie schemes versus the shortage of funds for MGNREGA.
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[00:00:01] Namaskar
[00:00:01] You know, when somebody offers you something, when somebody gifts you something, your mind automatically tries to figure out whether this gift that is given to you, is it for a reason that this person is gifting to you, which in some form is called corruption.
[00:00:31] I gift you this because I want something from you, quid pro quo, corruption.
[00:00:39] Or somebody is gifting you because they genuinely want you to have that gift. Don't you think before you take a gift? Doesn't that question come to us naturally?
[00:00:51] My question today is, when a government comes and gives you a freebie, do you think like that?
[00:00:57] Do you think that, oh this freebie is being thrown at me, so let me figure out whether this freebie that has been thrown at me, is it for a reason? Is it quid pro quo?
[00:01:08] Or is the government trying to corrupt me? Or is it genuinely something that the government is doing for me?
[00:01:16] That's what I am going to discuss today. Let's get right to the show.
[00:01:21] You see, there is an organisation called Lip Tech India. Lip Tech India is an NGO and they published a report where they said that 39 lakh workers were deleted from Manarega roles in the last 5 months.
[00:01:37] 39 lakh workers were deleted from the roles of Manarega.
[00:01:43] I talk about Manarega because Manarega stands for Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.
[00:01:50] Manarega stands for employment of our rural poor.
[00:01:55] Employment of people who actually cannot afford two square million.
[00:02:01] Manarega stands for that and I stand for Manarega.
[00:02:04] I talk on this topic regardless whether people watch me, people don't watch me.
[00:02:08] I get numbers, I don't get numbers.
[00:02:11] I come and I talk about Manarega.
[00:02:13] I talk about Manarega because I take it to be a mission.
[00:02:17] Because somebody has to talk for people who can't afford two square meals.
[00:02:22] Somebody has to talk for them.
[00:02:24] Every time can't be a trending topic.
[00:02:26] So I speak about Manarega.
[00:02:28] Now my problem is that 39 lakh workers have been there out of the roles from Manarega.
[00:02:36] You see Manarega caters to close to 25 crores workers.
[00:02:39] Close to 25 crores workers.
[00:02:41] This is according to the report which is last updated on 26th 10, 2024.
[00:02:46] 26th October 2024.
[00:02:48] Last updated figures.
[00:02:50] 25 crores of people which is technically 20% of our population.
[00:02:55] Depends on Manarega.
[00:02:56] Out of which the actual active workers are only 13 crores.
[00:03:00] Not even 10% of our population.
[00:03:02] 25 crores are registered but only 10% are active workers.
[00:03:07] Or it may be now you are removing 39 lakh workers.
[00:03:14] Now I go back to my question that I asked you.
[00:03:21] Manarega is the only guaranteed employment scheme to ensure that our rural poor are kept alive.
[00:03:29] It is the only scheme which ensures that our rural poor unka chula jalega.
[00:03:36] They get food.
[00:03:38] They get employment.
[00:03:40] And they work for their living.
[00:03:43] It is the only scheme.
[00:03:45] That half the time you are not paying state governments.
[00:03:48] And now you have 39 lakh workers deleted.
[00:03:52] But then at some point in time your government comes and tells you.
[00:03:58] Oh my dear sister.
[00:04:00] I am offering you 1500 rupees.
[00:04:03] You take 1500 rupees.
[00:04:05] Don't work at all.
[00:04:06] Don't work.
[00:04:07] Don't do anything.
[00:04:08] I will just gift it to you.
[00:04:09] You are my sister.
[00:04:10] No.
[00:04:10] I will gift it to you.
[00:04:12] You think about it.
[00:04:14] What I started this editorial in.
[00:04:16] There are certain gifts that are given to you.
[00:04:20] Because they need to bribe you.
[00:04:22] They need to lure you to ensure that you vote.
[00:04:26] And there are certain things that they have to do to ensure you actually benefit.
[00:04:30] Manarega is a scheme that is there.
[00:04:32] That is prevailing to ensure that you actually benefit the rural poor.
[00:04:37] And that is one scheme that takes a beating every second day.
[00:04:41] This possibly could be the tenth editorial I am doing about Manarega in the last one year.
[00:04:47] Why?
[00:04:50] Why is that Manarega the first victim of everything?
[00:04:54] No money is not money.
[00:04:56] You take Pangae with Mamata Banerji in West Bengal.
[00:04:59] You have to pay for money.
[00:05:00] Why is Manarega your first tool?
[00:05:04] Because Manarega harms stopping Manarega wages, deleting Manarega names harms the last common denominator in this country.
[00:05:13] And why are you using that as your first tool?
[00:05:19] And when is this government going to explain to us?
[00:05:23] As to where does it get money for
[00:05:26] Maji Ladki Bhain or Maza Ladka Bhau or Meri Piari Behna?
[00:05:32] Where does this government get the money for all of that?
[00:05:35] And why doesn't the government have enough money for Manarega?
[00:05:40] Why is there almost every time why is there a shortfall for Manarega payments?
[00:05:46] I want to ask this government.
[00:05:48] And I want you people of this country to ask this government.
[00:05:53] Because this concerns maybe not all of us, but this concerns our rural poor.
[00:05:59] And therefore it concerns us.
[00:06:01] You see, let me tell you in the last 5 years we have launched schemes like PM Potion Shakti Nirbana Abhyan.
[00:06:11] We have launched schemes like Startup India, Ayushmanj Sahakar scheme, Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Abhyan scheme.
[00:06:20] Scheme that is sustainable alternative towards affordable transportation scheme.
[00:06:25] Mission Sagar, Nirvik scheme, Samavita scheme, National Technical Textile Mission.
[00:06:31] We have launched almost hundreds of schemes across India.
[00:06:37] All of these schemes and all of the schemes somehow seems to have budget.
[00:06:43] Seems to have budget.
[00:06:44] Manarega doesn't.
[00:06:45] Now you tell me then why are these new schemes made?
[00:06:49] When there is one scheme that is working, there is one scheme that is reaching 25 crore people.
[00:06:54] And actually ensuring, not begging, not giving them free food and free, you know,
[00:06:59] line may kharere ke free ration.
[00:07:00] But ensuring that they work and they get paid for it and they make a living.
[00:07:05] They make a living for themselves.
[00:07:06] When you have a perfectly functioning scheme, why are you not ensuring that this scheme is active,
[00:07:14] this scheme is working and this scheme is put into action?
[00:07:17] This scheme is funded.
[00:07:19] Why aren't you doing it?
[00:07:22] You know there are three reasons.
[00:07:24] Reason number one is, Manarega is not a Bharatiya Janata Party scheme.
[00:07:29] Manarega is a scheme that was launched by Congress.
[00:07:33] So every time you talk Manarega, the advantage somewhere goes to Congress.
[00:07:40] So Bharatiya Janata Party is not very keen on giving advantage to Congress.
[00:07:44] Are you Baba change the name?
[00:07:47] You change the name, you take away Mahatma Gandhi's name, put Narendra Modi's name.
[00:07:52] But Manarega ko chalne do.
[00:07:55] Manarega ko chalne do because it will help the rural poor.
[00:07:58] I promise you it will help the rural poor.
[00:08:00] Number one that is the problem.
[00:08:02] Number two.
[00:08:03] You see what really happens is, if you go to see on ground and even if you talk to rural poor
[00:08:10] and rural India which I have done a lot especially when it comes to Manarega scheme.
[00:08:15] When you talk about it, you see a lot of credit of Manarega is taken away by the Chief Minister.
[00:08:21] The Chief Minister takes the credit of Manarega.
[00:08:23] For instance, in West Bengal if you talk about Manarega, a lot of credit goes to Mahatma Banerji.
[00:08:29] People give credit to Mahatma Banerji.
[00:08:31] They don't connect it to the centre.
[00:08:34] And when they don't get wages, even the anger is against Mahatma Banerji.
[00:08:38] That too is also a fact.
[00:08:40] But it happens that the mileage of it goes to the Chief Minister.
[00:08:44] And that I guess the central government doesn't want.
[00:08:49] Because there is no Modi photograph there.
[00:08:52] I am saying put Modi photograph there.
[00:08:55] Put Modi photograph in every Manarega, every place where you are doing Manarega work.
[00:09:00] Every place you put a, like Intel inside you have in every computer.
[00:09:03] Remember Intel inside, every place where there is Manarega work happening.
[00:09:06] Let us put a banner there with Mr. Modi's photograph.
[00:09:09] Put there.
[00:09:10] Put that.
[00:09:12] But give Manarega.
[00:09:15] Give Manarega to people.
[00:09:17] Please don't delete Manarega names.
[00:09:20] Please don't stop Manarega payments.
[00:09:23] Please don't stop Manarega wages for whatever elections you want to win,
[00:09:27] for whatever power you want to attain,
[00:09:29] whatever states that governments you want to get under your control.
[00:09:35] Please don't harm Manarega.
[00:09:38] Because you are harming people of this country.
[00:09:40] You are harming the rural poor of this country.
[00:09:43] The third point why possibly the government does not want or is,
[00:09:49] I see, this is my view.
[00:09:51] I may be wrong.
[00:09:53] Please tell me if I am.
[00:09:54] But the government doesn't give impetus to Manarega.
[00:09:58] Is because somewhere down the line,
[00:10:00] Manarega does not come in headlines every day.
[00:10:03] It doesn't get them headlines.
[00:10:05] It doesn't get them PR points.
[00:10:06] You launch a new train that gets them more PR points than paying Manarega.
[00:10:13] You launch a new train.
[00:10:15] You pay good, give free ration with, you know, all the fanfare and photographs and everything.
[00:10:22] You give free ration that gets you more headlines than Manarega.
[00:10:25] That's the problem.
[00:10:28] Because Manarega, people don't talk about it much.
[00:10:30] Whereas that converts into PR.
[00:10:34] Converts into positive PR.
[00:10:36] Manarega doesn't.
[00:10:38] So therefore, Manarega is never the priority.
[00:10:41] The other one, other schemes are.
[00:10:46] I beg of media, please give more mileage to Manarega.
[00:10:50] Please give more mileage to Manarega.
[00:10:52] I am willing to say every day in my program that thanks to the Prime Minister of India,
[00:10:57] thanks to the central government that Manarega wages are paid.
[00:11:00] I am willing to say that every day.
[00:11:02] Proviso, my poor is paid.
[00:11:04] My rural poor is paid.
[00:11:08] My humble request, like always.
[00:11:12] This is a very important topic.
[00:11:15] This concerns 25 crore people.
[00:11:19] This concerns 25 crore of the lowest income group of our country.
[00:11:27] Please do not ignore this.
[00:11:30] Please give impetus to this.
[00:11:32] And please ensure, please ensure that Manarega wages are paid
[00:11:36] and Manarega names are not deleted.
[00:11:39] Workers' names are not deleted from the list.
[00:11:43] This is possibly the difference.
[00:11:45] This is possibly the only string that they are holding on to for their dear life.
[00:11:52] Else, they may start starving.
[00:11:56] And then, I don't think we deserve to call ourselves a society.
[00:12:01] We don't deserve to call ourselves a republic.
[00:12:04] We don't deserve to call ourselves a democratic country.
[00:12:07] Because if we can't take care of the weaker section of our society, shame on us.
[00:12:12] All this is not worth it.
[00:12:14] That's the point I wanted to make till I see you next time.
[00:12:17] That's tomorrow at 10.
[00:12:18] Namaskar.
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