By all means keep MNREGA alive, Mr Modi

But don't keep funding it. Find other ways to improve rural income

To quote a Facebook friend: 

I learned today:

•MNREGA is about digging holes. 

•People are digging holes because they are poor. 

•They are poor because of the Central Government.

•MNREGA is still needed

Mr Modi is right when he says MNREGA is a sign, even a glaring poster, of Congress’s failure. A government, which was unable to provide employment to Rural India, found succour in Keynesian economics by providing it with income for doing low-skilled jobs.  If one goes by Modi’s statement, he intends to continue it despite the belief that it has achieved little.  

Why? His argument that he will keep the programme alive simply to highlight the opposition’s failure and prove a political point has low shelf life.  Criticising such policies and still continuing them with statements like ‘we are trying to find solution to the problems we have inherited’ sound weak. Surely, wasting Rs 30,000-odd crore in a programme is an expensive way to make a political statement. 

What is more surprising is Modi’s jarring note despite a majority mandate in the Lok Sabha. Clearly, voters were unhappy with the Congress’ promises and one would assume, even delivery on subsidised food and income (MNREGA). So, why attack a non-issue. If he is unhappy with the previous government’s policies, he has the golden opportunity to change them (much like Suresh Prabhu). 

The government seems to be already working on this. If recommendations of the Shanta Kumar committee are accepted, the National Food Security Act’s coverage of population will be brought down to only 40 per cent instead of the existing 67 per cent. With the expense on the Act at Rs 1.6 lakh crore (if implemented in full), there would be considerable savings. Similarly instead of announcing new trains, Suresh Prabhu has decided to make the existing system robust. Against this backdrop, Modi’s comments seem like he is still in election mode. It’s time to move on.