Buoyed by the success of the farmers' movement, the Indian National Congress is stepping up its agitation for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). However, the party views this as a protracted sensitisation programme rather than a protest that can immediately alter the status of the scheme, which it claims has been dismantled by the Modi government.
Why MGNREGA Struggle Differs from Farm Laws Agitation
The core challenge, as per Congress analysis, lies in the starkly different nature of the stakeholders. The farm laws agitation saw the mobilization of relatively affluent farmers from across North India, who could sustain a prolonged dharna that ultimately forced the Centre to repeal the three contentious Acts.
In contrast, MGNREGA workers are the rural poor fighting for daily survival. Party insiders concede that this demographic cannot be expected to leave their work for an extended struggle over a future policy concern. This fundamental difference in the social and economic clout of the two groups complicates what might otherwise seem a straightforward battle for rights.
A Strategy of Sensitisation Over Sustained Dharna
This strategic assessment was a key point of discussion in last week's Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting. Sources indicate the CWC acknowledged that the battle for MGNREGA would be prolonged and require a different tactical approach.
Instead of calling wage earners away from work, the plan involves political activists visiting work sites and villages directly. The goal is to sensitise workers about the potential adverse impacts of changes introduced in the new law, which Congress highlights as:
- Issues related to budget allocation.
- The policy of pausing the Act for two months during the agricultural season.
- The shift towards panchayat-level planning.
The agitation is thus envisioned as a long-term campaign to prepare workers for when they "feel the pinch" of the amended Act. This effort will also require coordination with voluntary organisations active in the MGNREGA ecosystem.
Historical Context and Potential New Fault Lines
Interestingly, this is not the first time the Modi government has faced pressure to backtrack on legislation. In its early days, it faced significant opposition over perceived "weakening" of the land acquisition law, a movement led by Rahul Gandhi. Notably, that agitation also primarily involved farmers concerned about eased acquisition norms.
The MGNREGA changes, however, could create a unique conflict. The provision to pause the scheme during the farming season might potentially pit farmers, who need labour during those months, against MGNREGA workers seeking guaranteed employment. This adds another layer of complexity to Congress's mobilization efforts, framing it more as a gradual awareness drive than a mass uprising.
