‘125 days’ is a an illusion’: P Chidambaram responds to President Murmu’s Budget session address
New Delhi : Former Union Finance Minister and Congress leader P Chidambram responded to the President Droupadi Murmu’s Budget Session address and said that the ‘125 days’ of work under the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act is not a “guarantee but an illusion”
In a post on X, the veteran Congress leader said, “President Droupadi Murmu mentioned in her address that “the Viksit Bharat-G RAM G law has been enacted. With this reform, there will be a guarantee of 125 days of employment in villages” Wrong, Madam President!”
“The average number of days of employment provided to a household in recent years under MGNREGA was 50 days. Not because of lack of demand, but because sufficient funds were not provided,” he pointed out. The Congress leader targeted the BJP-led government in his post and added, “How will the average of 50 days magically jump to 125 days? Will the government provide 2.5 times the money provided in 2024-25 and 2025-26? The ‘125 days’ is not a guarantee. It is an illusion. Why stop with 125 days? It is a hollow promise; you might as well guarantee 365 days in a year”.
The Budget Session of Parliament commenced on Wednesday with President Droupadi Murmu addressing the joint sitting of the two Houses. When President Murmu, during her address, highlighted the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act, the opposition MPs stood and protested.