Congress Launches ‘MNREGA Bachao Abhiyan’ from Jan 8
Party announces nationwide agitation from January 8, alleges new law weakens rural right to work
- Congress to start 45-day nationwide campaign from January 8
- Alleges G-RAMG Act “silently kills” MNREGA and legal right to work
- Says decentralised rural employment system being dismantled
- Warns of protests and possible legal action
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 3rd Jan: The Congress on Saturday announced a nationwide agitation against the G-RAMG Act, alleging that the new legislation weakens the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) and undermines the legal right to work guaranteed to rural citizens.
The announcement was made at a press briefing at the Congress headquarters by party general secretary KC Venugopal and senior leader Jairam Ramesh.
Venugopal said the party has finalised a detailed roadmap for a countrywide campaign titled ‘MNREGA Bachao Abhiyan’, beginning January 8 and continuing for 45 days. He alleged that the new law threatens the core spirit of MNREGA, which, according to him, played a vital role in reducing hunger, curbing migration, and creating rural infrastructure. He also pointed out that MNREGA acted as a safety net during the COVID-19 pandemic and economic slowdown.
“The G-RAMG Act makes employment no longer a guaranteed right. Work will now be routed only through panchayats, and budget caps have been introduced. This silently kills the legal right to work,” Venugopal said.
Jairam Ramesh warned that the decentralised nature of MNREGA was being dismantled, claiming that decision-making would now be centralised in Delhi, potentially leaving many panchayats without funds. He also alleged that the legislation violated constitutional provisions by being introduced without proper consultation between the Centre and the states.
Drawing parallels with the farmers’ agitation, Ramesh said the campaign would be taken to the grassroots, including state, district, block and panchayat levels. He recalled that MNREGA was enacted in 2005 after broad political consensus and said the party would explore legal options if necessary.
“This will be a national movement. If required, we will approach the courts. We demand MNREGA be restored and rural India be protected,” Ramesh said.
