T'gana challenges Centre's rural job scheme in SC

Telangana has decided to challenge the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) scheme in the Supreme Court. The state cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, has expressed strong reservations over key provisions of the scheme and criticized the Centre for ignoring the state's objections and recommendations. The state government had earlier passed a resolution against the scheme in the Jan assembly session, which was disregarded by the Centre. Despite this, Telangana has agreed to implement the law from July 1 to prevent disruption of employment for rural workers.

The state's principal objection is the 60:40 funding formula, which requires states to bear 40% of the scheme expenditure. Telangana estimates its annual share at around Rs 2,500 crore, whereas the previous MGNREGA programme was entirely funded by the Centre. The cabinet also opposes the provision mandating a 60-day break for beneficiaries, arguing that it would adversely affect poor rural households and agricultural labourers dependent on employment guarantee works. In addition to the legal challenge against the scheme, the cabinet has made key decisions in welfare, healthcare, and infrastructure sectors. These include extending the breakfast, milk, and mid-day meal programme to schools and junior colleges, large-scale recruitment for new super-speciality hospitals, and administrative approval for the Musi riverfront development project.

The cabinet has also approved land allotments for the construction of warehouses for essential commodities and for the establishment of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas and Kendriya Vidyalaya. Tribal leaders have also raised concerns and sought additional housing allocation and support for tribal development initiatives. The state continues to pursue its objections to the rural job scheme while advancing various other important initiatives.