Congress’ Save-MGNREGA Stir to Last for 45 Days

NEW DELHI: Congress on Saturday said replacing of MGNREGA with VB GRAM G Bill is like ‘Vinash Bharat’ instead of ‘Vikait Bharat’, and announced a 45-day ‘MGNREGA Bachao Sangram’ from January 10 demanding the restoration of UPA-era rural job guarantee law and said it will explore all options, including its non-implementation in Opposition-ruled states. 

Congress claims VBG RAM G Bill, which replaces MGNREGA, opens door to underpayment and wage suppression, pushing workers further into poverty. Addressing a press conference here at the party headquarters, Congress General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal announced that the party will launch the MGNREGA Sangram from January 10. "This converts a constitutional promise into a government permission," Venugopal alleged. 

He said that the MGNREGA was demand-driven while VB GRAM G introduces a budget cap and normative allocations. "Once funds are exhausted, work is stopped, no matter how desperate families are. This silently kills the legal right to work," he said. The Congress leader also asserted that the MGNREGA was one of the most decentralised schemes. "Now, everything Delhi decides, and villages are going to suffer. Earlier, gram sabhas and panchayats planned work based on local needs. Now, VB Gram G centralizes all decision-making like funds, works and assets placing full control in Delhi," he said. 

Venugopal explained that many panchayats will now receive zero funds, destroying local planning and violating the spirit of the 73rd Constitutional Amendments. "Basically, panchayats are reduced to clerks implementing the Centre’s schemes," he stated. He also said that the bill introduces a 60-day period during peak agricultural seasons. This means the government can legally deny work when rural distress is highest. 

MGNREGA provided notified wages linked to inflation, he said. "VB Gram G removes this certainty. There is no guaranteed wage rate. Wages depend on what the Centre fixes for each panchayat. This opens the door to underpayment and wage suppression, pushing workers further into poverty," he said. He said that now work will be provided only in panchayats notified by the central government. "If a panchayat is not selected, people there have no entitlement to work, regardless of poverty or distress," he said. 

He also pointed out that earlier, the Centre paid 100 percent of the wages. Now, this has been reduced to 60 percent. Poor states are going to suffer, he added. Discussing the effect, he said that there will be denial of work or diversion of funds from health, education, and welfare activities and states will be left with no other option. 

He also said that basically, technology should be a tool of transparency. "Under this new scheme, technology is going to become a tool of exclusion. Workers with worn-out fingerprints, poor connectivity or low digital literacy will be denied wages," he claimed. Venugopal also said that earlier, under MGNREGA, no big contractor could enter. "Now, space is being created for contractors. MGNREGA created village level assets not covered under other schemes. VBGram G allows convergence with large infrastructure programs like PM Gati Shakti. This converts panchayats into labour suppliers for central contractors, reintroducing contractors through the back door and increasing leakages," he alleged. 

Their only claim is that they are increasing the days of work from 100 to 125. These are completely bogus claims and will not happen at all, he said. "The question before our nation is this: erasure of rural employment, suppression of wages below minimum levels, increased distress and migration, bonded labour, a sharp decline in women's participation, a disproportionate impact on Dalit and Adivasi families, and the weakening of villages," he stated. 

Venugopal also said that removing the name of Mahatma Gandhi is also a most condemnable act. "Mahatma Gandhi is not merely a symbol. His name does not stand for symbolism alone. Gandhiji represented the dignity of labour, village self-rule, and the moral responsibility of the State," he said, adding, "Erasing his name reflects an attempt to erase the rights-based vision behind MGNREGA itself." 

He said that through the MGNREGA Bachao Sangram, Congress aims to defend the right to work, protect Panchayati Raj institutions, stand with women workers, Dalits, Adivasis, and the rural poor, take this issue to every village in the country. Making demands with the government, he said, "Withdraw the VB GRAM G Act and restore the MGNREGA Act in its original, rights-based form, restoring the people's right to work and the authority of Panchayats." 

Even Jairam Ramesh said, "The three farms' laws were Delhi centric movement. But MGNREGA Bachao Sangram is not Delhi centric as it’s panchayat, block, district and state centric." Ramesh also stated that the party will challenge the VBG RAM G Act in Court. "MGNREGA stated that this is a legal and constitutional right, and it is the responsibility of the central government. In this new law, 60 per cent financial assistance has been made the responsibility of the central government and 40 per cent of the state government," the Rajya Sabha MP said. He said that the law states that the 60:40 formula will be implemented, which is a violation of Article 258 of the Constitution. "Article 258 states that this formula will be determined only after the consent of the state government and the central government, but they have decided it on their own whim and have not taken consent from anyone on this. We will challenge it in the court," Ramesh added. 

Ramesh also alleged that MGNREGA was passed unanimously in Parliament in 2005 and the draft of this law was sent to the Standing Committee, whose chairman was Kalyan Singh, the former CM of UP and a senior BJP leader. "It was implemented after accepting the recommendations of that Standing Committee. In the new Act, VB does not mean Developed India, it means Destroyed India. The G in the earlier one meant a guarantee of work, but in this new law, G stands for guarantee of centralization," he said. "The demand of the 'Save MGNREGA Campaign' is Bring back MGNREGA, Save Rural India," Ramesh stated. 

He also said that over the past 17 years, this scheme has benefited crores of labourers and families. It has been praised worldwide: during Covid-19, this scheme provided relief to crores of people. The way it has been removed is not in the interest of the country," he added. 

Announcing the schedule of the MGNREGA Bachao Sangram, Venugopal said that it will be in three phases and go on for 45 days and the first phase will commence from January 10 to February 25. He said that on January 5, a full day preparatory meeting for MGNREGA Bachao Sangram at PCC in the presence of GS/In-charges with PCC Leadership and senior leaders and on January 10, district-level press conferences at DCC offices, and on January 11, one-day fast at District Headquarters or near Gandhiji or Ambedkar ji statues, with participation of party leaders, and MGNREGA workers. 

In Phase 2 from January 12 to January 29 which will include Panchayat-level Chaupals across all Gram Panchayats, and also the delivery of letter from Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and LoP Rahul Gandhi to all Gram Pradhan, Ex Gram Pradhans, Rozgar Sevaks and MGNREGA Workers, Vidhan Sabha Level Nukkad Sabhas and Pamphlet Distribution. On January 30, on the Martyrs Day, peaceful sit-in at ward level with MGNREGA workers and activists. 

While during the Phase 3 will commence from January 31 to February 25. From January 31 to February 6, Congress will launch district-level MGNREGA Bachao Dharna at DC/DM Office with DCC and grassroots leadership with participation of senior leaders from local tehsils and MGNREGA labourers. February 7 to 15, state level Gherao of Vidhan Sabha with Full PCC mobilization. While from February 16 to February 25, four Zonal AICC MGNREGA Bachao rallies will take place across India. 

On whether the states ruled by the INDIA bloc constituents would implement the new Act or oppose it, Venugopal said the Congress would hold consultations with all the alliance partners on the way forward.