PMK leader, Congress MP slam Union govt for reducing funding pattern for TN, other southern states under VB-G RAM G

CHENNAI: PMK president Anbumani and Congress MP Sasikanth Senthil on Thursday criticised the Union govt for changing the funding pattern under the VB–G RAM G scheme, calling it a gross injustice and an infringement on state rights.

Reacting to a news report published in TOI — TN loses out on VB–G RAM G funds, they flagged that TN has been receiving an average 10% fund from the central govt’s total allocation for the scheme. It would drop to 4.1% once the draft rules of the VB–G RAM G Act come into effect, warning that it would have an adverse impact on rural populations dependent on the scheme. Apart from TN, other southern states would also face similar situation from this fiscal year.

Anbumani, in a statement, condemned the Union govt’s draft plan to slash Tamil Nadu’s fund allocation to Rs 3,923 crore for the upcoming 125-day rural employment guarantee scheme. The new scheme is set to replace the existing framework on July 1. He termed the reduction a gross injustice and an infringement on state rights, urging the Tamil Nadu govt not to accept the decision quietly.

Sasikanth Senthil took to social media and said, “This is exactly what happens when a rights-based programme is converted into a budget-allocation exercise. The result? States that effectively implemented the programme, controlled population growth, and delivered better developmental outcomes are pushed to the back of the queue. Once a right becomes a budget line item, deprivation becomes a matter of arithmetic. As usual, the southern states are left bearing the cost.”