The Indian National Congress has declared a major nationwide agitation to protect the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). The party will launch a protest campaign titled 'MGNREGA Bachao Sangram' (Save MGNREGA Struggle) starting from January 10, 2025. This movement is a direct challenge to the policies of the Narendra Modi-led central government, which the Congress accuses of systematically undermining the flagship rural employment guarantee scheme.
Nationwide Mobilization Against Government Policies
According to a detailed announcement by Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh, the protest campaign is scheduled to run for over a month, culminating on February 25, 2025. The party plans to organize a series of demonstrations, public meetings, and outreach programs across the country during this period. The core objective is to highlight what the Congress perceives as the government's deliberate attempts to weaken MGNREGA by reducing budget allocations, creating artificial delays in wage payments, and imposing restrictive conditions.
Jairam Ramesh, who is also the party's communications in-charge, stated that the campaign will focus on awakening the public conscience and mobilizing beneficiaries of the scheme. The Congress alleges that the Modi government has been hostile to MGNREGA since it came to power in 2014, viewing the program as a symbol of the previous Congress-led UPA government's legacy. The party claims that instead of strengthening the world's largest social security scheme, the current administration has consistently tried to dilute its provisions and limit its reach.
Key Allegations and Political Context
The Congress has leveled several specific charges against the government. A primary accusation is the significant reduction in the MGNREGA budget, which the party argues has led to a contraction in the number of workdays generated and has exacerbated rural distress. Furthermore, the opposition party highlights the issue of wage payment delays, stating that workers often have to wait for months to receive their rightful earnings, defeating the very purpose of a demand-driven employment guarantee.
Another point of contention is the integration of the scheme with the Aadhaar-based payment system and the National Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS) app for attendance. The Congress contends that these technological mandates, in areas with poor digital infrastructure, have created unnecessary hurdles for workers, leading to denial of work and non-payment of wages. The 'MGNREGA Bachao Sangram' will seek to bring these grassroots issues to the forefront of national discourse.
This agitation is part of the Congress's broader strategy to position itself as the defender of welfare schemes and the voice of the rural poor ahead of crucial political cycles. By championing MGNREGA, the party aims to reconnect with its traditional voter base and counter the BJP's narrative on development and governance.
The Road Ahead: A Sustained Agitation
The six-week-long campaign is designed to be a sustained and intensive effort. The Congress plans to involve its frontal organizations, state units, and local leaders to ensure the message reaches every village and block where MGNREGA is implemented. The protest will likely include dharnas, rallies, and submission of memorandums to district authorities, demanding immediate corrective action from the Centre.
The choice of dates, from mid-January to late February, is strategic. This period follows the winter harvest and precedes the peak agricultural season, a time when rural employment demand and political activity are high. The culmination of the campaign on February 25 will set the stage for the party's next line of action, potentially leading to a larger confrontation with the government in Parliament or through escalated protests.
As the principal opposition party, the Congress hopes this focused campaign will not only apply political pressure but also force a national debate on the state of rural employment and social security in India. The success of the 'MGNREGA Bachao Sangram' will be closely watched as an indicator of the party's mobilizational capacity and its ability to set the political agenda on issues of economic justice.
