Nationwide “MGNREGA Bachao” Protests Announced
The Indian National Congress has officially declared a month-long nationwide protest titled “MGNREGA Bachao Sangram.” This movement, scheduled to run from January 10 to February 25, 2026, aims to challenge the newly enacted Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, known as the VB-G RAM G Act. Party leaders claim this new law effectively “kills” the original MGNREGA scheme by removing the legal right to work for rural citizens.
At a high-level press conference in New Delhi, party general secretaries expressed grave concerns over the centralization of power.They argued that while the original 2005 Act was demand-driven, allowing workers to claim employment as a right, the new framework shifts to a budget-capped model.This change means that instead of the government being legally bound to provide work, employment will now depend on available administrative funds and central notifications.
The protest roadmap is designed to reach the grassroots level across all states, including significant mobilization in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.It begins with district-level press meets on January 10, followed by a series of public fasts and “Chaupals” (village meetings) to educate workers about their changing rights.The agitation will culminate in four major national rallies in late February, pressuring the Centre to restore the rights-based architecture of the rural job guarantee.
In South India, the Telangana Assembly has already passed a resolution opposing the new Act.State leaders highlighted that the revised 60:40 funding ratio places an unfair financial burden on state governments. They warned that the transition could lead to the exclusion of millions of vulnerable workers, particularly women and tribal communities, who rely on the scheme as a critical safety net during economic or climatic distress.
The Union Government, however, maintains that the VB-G RAM G Act is a necessary upgrade. Officials state it increases the employment guarantee to 125 days and uses AI-based monitoring to prevent corruption. Despite these claims, the Opposition remains firm, demanding a total withdrawal of the law. They argue that technological barriers and seasonal work restrictions will only serve to ration work rather than expand it for the rural poor.
