New Delhi, Dec 22 (UNI) The Congress party on Monday announced a public agitation campaign to oppose the government’s move to repeal the abolition of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), citing concerns over the government’s move to replace it with the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh highlighted the history of employment guarantee schemes in India, starting with the pioneering Employment Guarantee Scheme introduced in Maharashtra in the 1970s. He noted that the Congress party had pledged to enact a new law to guarantee employment for 100 days a year to rural families in its 2004 Lok Sabha election manifesto, which eventually led to the creation of MGNREGA.
Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party, has also expressed concerns over the government’s move to repeal MGNREGA, stating that it will harm the rural poor. The Congress party has accused the government of “bulldozing” the MGNREGA and converting it from a right to a favour.
The government has defended its move, stating that the new bill aims to provide 125 days of wage employment annually to rural households and align rural livelihoods with the national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
Congress slams govt’s move to repeal MGNREGA
