New Delhi, July 1 -- Communist Party of India (CPI) general secretary D Raja on Wednesday called for the immediate restoration of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) to its full potential, stating that the rural poor--the "creators of food"--are currently living in extreme distress.

The Centre notified the implementation of the VB G RAM G Act today, replacing MGNREGA.

Addressing a press conference here, the CPI general secretary emphasised that the primary goal of the country should be to ensure livelihood, employment, and education for every citizen.

"Within the country, we should address all the problems of livelihood, employment for all, and education for all. To ensure and to achieve that goal, the ...