CHENNAI: BJP state unit on Friday dismissed allegations surrounding the revamping of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), asserting that the Centre has introduced a comprehensive new law to modernise rural employment and livelihood programmes, and not merely renamed an existing scheme.

In a statement, TN BJP chief spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy said the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme was originally enacted by Parliament in 2005 to ensure livelihood security for rural households and was renamed MGNREGS only in 2009. The programme, he noted, focused on creating durable assets such as water bodies, roads, afforestation projects and soil conservation works.

“After more than two decades, the scheme has now been comprehensively revamped through the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025, replacing the old framework with a new, reform-oriented law aligned with contemporary needs and national infrastructure priorities,” Narayanan said. He emphasised that the objective was adaptation and reform, not a mere change in nomenclature.

Highlighting funding trends, the BJP leader pointed out that the scheme’s allocation had increased from Rs 33,000 crore in 2014 to Rs 86,000 crore last year, and now stands at Rs 1,51,852 crore under the new Bill, with the Centre contributing 60%. He rejected Chief Minister M K Stalin’s claim of reduced Central funding for sponsored schemes, stating that BJP-led governments had released Rs 84 lakh crore to States over the past decade, compared to Rs 22 lakh crore during the Congress-led UPA regime.

Under the new law, guaranteed employment has been increased from 100 to 125 days, with a 60-day pause during peak agricultural seasons to prevent disruption of farm activities. The scheme is fully digitised to eliminate irregularities, prioritises women, senior citizens and persons with disabilities, and empowers gram panchayats with greater authority.

Narayanan Thirupathy accused opposition parties of indulging in misleading propaganda and said the reforms would significantly contribute to India’s journey towards becoming a developed nation.