STATEMENT ISSUED BY SHRI M. VENKAIAH NAIDU, M.P.

Where is the common man?
"Aam Aadmi ka andekha aur uske saath Congress ka Vishwaas ghaat"

The National Common Minimum Programme of the Congress-Communist-Laloo combine UPA government mentions, "The UPA government will immediately enact a National Employment Guarantee Act. This will provide a legal guarantee for at least 100 days of employment to begin with on asset-creating public works programmes every year at minimum wages for at least one able-bodied person in every rural, urban poor, and lower middle class household." There is substantial difference in what the National Common Minimum Programme promised, and what the UPA government has tabled in the National Rural Employment Guarantee Bill, 2004.

The Employment Guarantee Bill is a mockery on the poor people of India. It is infact a great betrayal. A diluted version of the bill was introduced on the last day of the winter session, now it can only be taken up in the budget session. This means that even if, the bill is approved in the budget session, one year would be lost. The Vajpayee government had succeeded in providing 85 lakhs employment opportunities, yet the Congress-Communist-Laloo brigade criticized it, and instead promised 100 days of guaranteed employment for every able-bodied person from all poor families. They also promised of tabling an 'Employment Guarantee' bill in the first session of parliament. However when voted to power, the Congress-Communist-Laloo-led UPA government has shown lack of seriousness towards the issue. Its own constituents have accused the government of being a government of "neo-liberalizers, the blind-folded men, who refuse to see the gross inequalities and of increasing poverty their policies have caused".

While drafting the CMP, the Congress-Communist-Laloo combine misled the people of India into believing that, if voted into power, they could literally offer the sky. The science of economics was shown the door. Now the harsh reality is biting and the people of India are demanding action on the promises made. About Rs. 40,000 crores needed to implement the provisions of the bill nationwide are nowhere to be found. The centre is off-loading the responsibility on the states, and the states are in no position to take the responsibility in the absence of funds. As usual the Left is contended with critical sound bytes.

The bill in its present form suffers from a series of drawbacks. There is no time-bound extension of the Act. The government's inequality towards all areas of the country is apparent, as only 150 districts have been selected. The unemployment allowance has been restricted only to poor households, and since a "poor household" is defined as a household living below the poverty line (BPL), the Bill is highly restrictive. It is just an extension of the Swarnjayanti Swarojgar Yojana (SSY). The UPA government has thus broken its promises to a large number of the urban poor, and the lower-middle class group who are above the BPL. The Act also stinks of governmental inexperience and lack of awareness of the ground situation in India, as it fails to recognize that anybody willing to work with a spear and an axe can be considered as a needy person. There is grave apathy towards women, as there is no mention about women and their needs. The contradictory definitions of what constitutes "preferred work", indicates a criminal callousness of the bill.

The bill indicates of a lack of understanding of the Indian way of life, namely joint families. It defines a household on the basis of a shared dwelling or a common ration card, ignoring the reality of joint families. For example, if there are three adult sons, and their families living under the same roof, or say, there are single daughters, widows with their families, then as per the bill, only one among them all will be eligible for employment. The bill also fails to ensure that the programme is fully funded by the Centre.

The real face of the Congress-Communist-Laloo combine UPA government is out. It is anti-poor and its promises are deceptive. Within seven months of coming to power, they have burdened the common man with so many price rises. Now they are again moving in the direction of further burdening the common man as per the mid-term review of the Fiscal Report presented to parliament yesterday. In this report they are talking of restricting food subsidy, doing away with fertilizer subsidy, reducing subsidy on LPG, raising user charges in social sectors. The rate of inflation has doubled, the prices of essential and required commodities like coal, steel, cement, sugar, edible oil, petroleum products particularly LPG have increased. Through the report submitted to parliament they are now preparing the country for another heavy dose of price rise. Their promise to enhance the Employment Provident Fund (EPF) rate from 8.5% to 9.5% is a misnomer. They have also increased the rate of interest on housing.

The Bharatiya Janata Party is concerned about the callousness with which the Congress-Communist-Laloo combine UPA government is taking the Employment Guarantee Act and the Indian people for a ride. The BJP accuses the UPA government on the following charges, and demands that the government answer them:

1. Making false promises just to get votes, and hence not serious about the scheme.
2. Attempting to avoid discussion on the Employment Guarantee Bill by presenting it on the last day of the winter session.
3. Adopting callousness in addressing issues regarding the rural poor around whom the Congress-Communist-Laloo combine brigade developed their "Aam Aadmi" election slogan.
4. Not fulfilling the promise made to include the urban poor, and lower-middle class groups.
5. Ignoring women, and not understanding issues affecting rural women.
6. Not providing the funds required for the scheme.
7. Confining the scheme to only selected districts, and depriving a large part of India.
8. The bill is conditional, that is, it is subject the various conditions depending on the states' economic capacities.
9. Burdening the common man with continued price rise in essential commodities and reducing subsidy on critical sectors.

Shyam Jaju,
Office Secretary