CM Saha calls new rural jobs law historic, CPM vows agitation

Agartala: Tripura CM Manik Saha has hailed the Bharatiya Vikas Gramin Rozgar Mission Guarantee (BVGRAMG) Act as a landmark achievement, even as the opposition CPM announced statewide protests against the legislation and the labour policies of the Modi govt.Speaking to the media, Saha said the Act aims to strengthen rural employment and build sustainable infrastructure, thereby boosting the rural economy and livelihoods. He stressed that the new law would enhance accountability in the employment guarantee programme, addressing gaps in the earlier MGNREGA framework. Dr Saha said the BVGRAMG Act, recently enacted by parliament and approved by the President, was designed to rectify shortcomings of prior schemes. He accused the opposition of creating “unnecessary controversy” and attempting to downplay the benefits of the legislation.In sharp contrast, CPM state secretary and leader of opposition Jitendra Chaudhury accused BJP of trying to dismantle a crucial employment guarantee. He underscored the importance of MGNREGA, which has provided 100 days of work annually for rural labourers, and condemned the removal of Mahatma Gandhi’s name from the programme as “an extreme act of disrespect” and a politically motivated attempt to undermine a historic welfare legacy.Chaudhury also dismissed govt claims that the new law would extend workdays from 100 to 125, calling them “entirely false” and citing years of unmet commitments under MGNREGA.The Left Front has pledged to intensify its agitation, expanding protests to every household in Tripura. The party has demanded the repeal of the BVGRAMG Act, reinstatement of MGNREGA, a guarantee of 200 workdays per year, and an increase in wages to Rs 600 per worker. Chaudhury warned that the campaign would continue until these demands are met.