RSS affiliate calls for big hike in NGREGA funds

Seeks free food grains, financial aid to vulnerable sections

New Delhi, June 6: The Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM), an RSS-affiliate, on Sunday suggested the government to substantially increase funds for its rural employment guarantee scheme and extend financial support to the vulnerable sections in addition to free food grains.

In a resolution passed at its two-day national council meeting, the outfit also suggested that the government should consider providing specific stimulus to the sectors most affected by the Covid-19 pandemicinduced lockdowns, like construction, fishing and horticulture etc “in terms of soft loans”.

It is a foregone conclusion that increasing health expenses and reduced employment opportunities have further worsened the economic situation of poorer households, increased poverty level and contributed to wealth disparities, the SJM said.

In this unprecedented difficult situation in the country, the SJM suggests consider and extend financial support to the vulnerable sections of the society in addition to free food grains, substantially increase the fund allocation for MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act scheme) to support rural employment, a specific stimulus to sectors most affected by Corona virus-induced lockdowns ie, construction, fishing, horticulture, etc. in terms of soft loans, it added.

The RSS-affiliate also suggested that the emergency credit line guarantee scheme should be extended for a few more months and its scope can be further expanded to other pandemic hit sectors .

The government should announce a package for employment-linked incentives (ELI) to strengthen the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector, it said.

The SJM said the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) should clearly announce need-based moratoriums to suit every sector of the economy and direct banks for liberal monetary support.

The corporate and business houses should fully support to manage the difficult situation by liberal contribution for Covid relief, payment of salaries to employees without retrenchment and timely payment of dues to MSMEs, it said.

THE SJM said the RBI should clearly announce need-based moratoriums to suit every sector of the economy and direct banks for liberal monetary support