Chennai

Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udayanidhi Stalin on Thursday inaugurated the Christmas, New Year and Pongal exhibition organised by the Tamil Nadu Corporation for Development of Women (TNCDW), featuring products manufactured by women self-help groups (SHGs).

Addressing the gathering, Udayanidhi urged the public and private sector to actively support women SHGs by purchasing their products, especially during the festive season.

“During holidays and festival seasons, I appeal to people and private companies to purchase products manufactured by women’s self-help groups and present them as gifts on festive occasions, thereby showing their support to the SHGs,” he said.

Speaking to the media later, the Deputy Chief Minister expressed disappointment over the Union government’s decision to rename the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) as Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission-Gramin (VB G RAM G). He also alleged that the Centre has pending dues amounting to around Rs 4,000 crore to Tamil Nadu under the scheme.

“Funds must be released by the Union government. Around Rs 4,000 crore due to Tamil Nadu has not been released yet. The Chief Minister has been repeatedly urging the Centre to release these funds,” he said.

Earlier, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led Union government over the proposed changes to MGNREGA, calling the VB G RAM G scheme a “deceptive ploy” that threatens the livelihoods of the rural poor.

In a post on X, the Chief Minister alleged that despite the legal guarantee of 100 days of work under MGNREGA, beneficiaries received only 20 to 25 days of employment during the BJP regime due to delays in wage payments and project fund releases.

Stalin further claimed that the revised rules give discretionary powers to officials to provide work, making employment increasingly uncertain, and warned that Tamil Nadu could face significant financial losses due to reduced fund allocation. He also criticised the requirement for states to bear 40 per cent of project costs, calling it an added burden amid financial stress following GST-related changes.

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The Chief Minister termed it an “unforgivable act” for AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami to allegedly support the changes, describing it as a betrayal of rural women and agricultural labourers protected under MGNREGA.