BRS initiates a Postcard campaign to promote awareness of NREGS.

Minister for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development, Errabelli Dayakar Rao, and Narsampet MLA, Peddi Sudarshan Reddy, have launched a postcard campaign in Warangal, accusing the BJP-led Central Government of diluting the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). The campaign was initiated in Mohammadapuram village under Duggondi mandal, where Errabelli dropped the first postcard and Peddi the second one into the postbox. Errabelli demanded that the Centre link the employment guarantee scheme with agriculture to support small and marginal farmers. Last year, the Centre slashed budgetary allocation to the MGNREGS by Rs 30,000 crore, resulting in a drastic reduction in the working days of labourers. The Centre must ensure at least 100 working days for each labourer and increase daily wages to Rs 257 per day as per the MGNREG Act. The Centre is also not providing basic amenities such as tents, drinking water, shovels etc to the labourers. Errabelli believes that this indicates that the Centre is attempting to phase out the MGNREGS in a planned manner. He recalled that the Telangana government had already passed a resolution in the Assembly to link the MGNREGS with the agriculture sector. Errabelli said that the MGNREGS has been contributing to the development of rural areas and should be continued. He demanded that the Centre provide job security to all employees associated with the scheme. Later, the minister laid foundation stone for developmental works worth around Rs 5.62 crore.