Mangaluru: Bharath Shetty, MLA representing Mangaluru North, on Thursday criticised the Indian National Congress for staging a protest in the name of NREGA, alleging that the party itself is unaware of the reasons behind its agitation.
Addressing media persons, Shetty claimed that the Congress has consistently opposed initiatives associated with Lord Ram and accused the party of politicising welfare schemes for electoral gains. He further alleged that scams worth hundreds of crores of rupees had taken place in Karnataka under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) during previous administrations.
Allegations of corruption under NREGA
The MLA alleged that NREGA, which is intended to guarantee 100 days of wage employment to rural households, had in the past become a “route for corruption” in the state. Without naming specific individuals, he claimed that irregularities in the implementation of the scheme had led to large-scale misuse of public funds.
According to him, loopholes in monitoring and verification mechanisms had enabled fake job cards and inflated work records. “There were instances where funds meant for genuine beneficiaries were diverted. The scheme’s objective was diluted due to corruption,” he alleged.
Shetty contended that the current amendments and stricter enforcement mechanisms would ensure that only those who genuinely work under the scheme would be entitled to wages. “Under the new Act, such irregularities will no longer be possible. We are protecting the genuineness of the scheme, but they are protesting against it,” he said.
Criticism of Congress padayatra
Referring to the protest march organised by Congress leaders, Shetty said the party was resorting to a padayatra as a political strategy rather than out of genuine concern for labourers. He claimed that the agitation was aimed at misleading the public and creating confusion regarding reforms introduced in the implementation of NREGA.
He further alleged that the Congress was uncomfortable with tighter scrutiny and transparency measures. “If stricter verification is introduced and leakages are plugged, those who benefited from irregularities will obviously be unhappy,” he remarked.
The MLA also accused the opposition party of adopting a contradictory stance on welfare schemes. “On one hand they speak about protecting workers’ rights, and on the other they oppose measures that ensure only eligible beneficiaries receive payments,” he said.
Political exchange intensifies
The remarks are part of an ongoing political exchange between the ruling BJP and the Congress in the state over the implementation of welfare schemes and allegations of corruption. While the BJP maintains that reforms are aimed at improving transparency and efficiency, the Congress has accused the government of weakening social security mechanisms and creating hurdles for rural workers.
Shetty reiterated that the BJP government is committed to ensuring that public funds are utilised properly and reach intended beneficiaries. He said digitisation, field verification, and accountability measures would prevent misuse and restore public confidence in the scheme.
Focus on implementation reforms
The MLA emphasised that the objective of NREGA remains unchanged — to provide livelihood support to rural households. However, he argued that systemic reforms were necessary to prevent exploitation of the scheme.
He stated that the government’s approach is to strike a balance between welfare and accountability. “There is no intention to deny employment to genuine workers. The focus is on ensuring that the scheme is not misused,” he added.
Political observers note that debates around NREGA often intensify ahead of elections, as the scheme directly impacts rural voters. Allegations of corruption and counter-allegations of anti-worker policies have frequently dominated public discourse.
Conclusion
Shetty’s criticism underscores the sharp political divide over the implementation and oversight of NREGA in the state. While he has accused the Congress of staging protests without clarity and shielding past irregularities, the opposition continues to defend its stand on safeguarding workers’ rights.
With both sides firm in their positions, the issue is likely to remain a focal point of political debate in the coming weeks, particularly in the context of welfare governance and accountability.