Raichur: Chief minister Siddaramaiah expressed anger, stating that the Union govt’s announcement of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) under a new name and as a new law undermined the lives of the poor, women, Dalits, and small farmers.Speaking at the Sri Amba Mahotsav -2026 fair and the foundation and inauguration of various development projects in the Sindhanur assembly constituency, Siddaramaiah said that Rs 6,000 crore was spent annually for MGNREGA.“However, the Union govt replaced the MGNREGA with the VB-G RAM G Act, and the Karnataka govt strongly condemns this new law, which poses severe obstacles to the poor, women, Dalits, and small farmers. Our aim is to repeal the VB-G RAM G Act and reinstate the MGNREGA Act. Under the previous Act, the Union govt bore the full funding. However, the new rule requires the Union govt to bear 60% and the state govt 40%, which is inappropriate. Former PM Manmohan Singh implemented the people-oriented MGNREGA Act, and 20 years later, Prime Minister Narendra Modi changed even the name of Mahatma Gandhi to VB-G RAM G. People across the state should unanimously oppose this move,” he appealed. Emphasising irrigation, he said all corporations were allocated Rs 176 crore. “Salagunda lift irrigation received Rs 71 crore, Malluru lift irrigation Rs 21 crore, and Valaballari lift irrigation over Rs 43 crore. Hampanagouda Badarli improved the development of this constituency. Water was provided to more than 30 lakh hectares in an effort to supply water to 42 lakh hectares. The work to supply water to the remaining 12 lakh hectares is at various stages. Also, Rs 431 crore is being spent on the development of the Papayya tunnel and canal, and the installation of 33 gates at Tungabhadra. The work will be completed by June to provide water for the next monsoon crop,” he assured.
