A public hearing held by civil society activists on Monday protested the Narendra Modi Government’s proposed move to change land use and amend labour laws, among other things and sought strengthening of schemes, such as MGNREGA .

In the hearing, activists said the MGNREGA budget this year was actually 30 per cent lower than what was required to pay for the generation of the same number of person days of work as last year.

While in 2008 MNREGA allocation was 0.87 per cent of GDP, today it is only 0.22 per cent of GDP, they said, adding that the Government should ensure better implementation of the Act and empower people to fight corruption.

“MGNREGA should be revamped and made stronger and more effective. Provision needs to be made for inflation or the impending drought, as rural workers are facing a completely non-responsive employment guarantee regime,” Arundhati Dhuru of the Rashtriya Mazdoor Adhikar Morcha said in a release.

The public hearing, organised by the Pension Parishad, the Right to Food Campaign, the Rashtriya Mazdoor Adhikar Morcha for MNREGA, the Jan Swasthya Abhiyan and the National Alliance for People’s Movement at Delhi’ Janta Mantar on Monday also wanted the Government to strengthen the public health system.

Vandana Prasad of the Jan Swasthya Abhiyan called for strengthening of the public health system, especially primary level, by employing more health workers.

The Right to Food Campaign wanted the Government make amends to National Food Security Act 2013 by taking steps to expand and implement the Act in letter and spirit.

The Pension Parishad sought a Rs 2,000/month or 50 per cent of minimum wage (on retirement) for the elderly and destitute. “Social security like health care facilities and ration should also be provided to all elderly along with old age pension,” they said.

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