Congress alleges new law weakens right to work under MGNREGA

Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi have opposed the new VB-G RAM G Act, alleging it weakens the right to work under MGNREGA, shifts financial burden to states and undermines wages, local bodies and rural livelihoods

New Delhi: Opposing the new VB-G RAM G Act, which has replaced the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi have alleged that work for the rural population will no longer be a right but a “revdi” to be handed out at the government’s discretion.

In a letter addressed to rural citizens, the Congress leaders claimed that the new law “steals” the right to work while shifting a greater financial burden onto the states.

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The letter is part of the Congress’s nationwide campaign, MGNREGA Bachao Sangram, demanding restoration of the earlier law. The campaign was launched on January 10 and will continue till February 25.

The party has asked its state unit chiefs to translate and circulate the letter in local languages among rural communities.

Recalling the enactment of MGNREGA 20 years ago under the Manmohan Singh-led Congress government, the leaders said the law gave life to the constitutional right to work. Since its introduction, MGNREGA has generated over 180 crore person-days of employment and created nearly 10 crore assets, including village tanks and roads, while strengthening the panchayati raj system, the letter said.

“During crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, it was the lifeline of the rural economy. The Modi government is now planning to destroy the soul of MGNREGA in four critical ways,” it alleged.

Claiming that the right to work was being diluted, the letter said that earlier, employment was a legal guarantee to every rural family and had to be provided within 15 days of demand in any gram panchayat. Under the new law, work would no longer be a right but a discretionary benefit, with the Centre deciding which gram panchayats receive work.

The leaders also alleged that the right to wages was being undermined. While earlier wages were linked to notified minimum rates with annual revisions and work was available throughout the year, the new system would allow wages to be fixed arbitrarily and suspend work during harvest seasons, forcing workers to accept other employment without minimum wage protection.

Kharge and Gandhi further claimed that the powers of gram panchayats would be taken away and handed over to contractors. Earlier, gram panchayats planned and executed development works, with contractors barred and workers supported by MGNREGA mates and rozgar sahayaks, they said.

Under the new arrangement, project decisions would be controlled from Delhi, reducing gram panchayats to mere implementing agencies, while contractors would be brought in and support staff removed, the letter alleged.

The Congress leaders also said the financial burden on states would increase, with states now required to pay 40 per cent of wages, unlike earlier when the Centre bore the full wage cost.

“To cut costs, states will be incentivised to limit workdays. The worst impact will be on rural families, particularly women and SC/ST communities, for whom guaranteed work is a lifeline against hunger, debt and distress migration,” the letter said.

Reiterating the party’s stand, the leaders said the Congress would continue the MGNREGA Bachao Sangram to restore guaranteed work, wages and accountability, and urged people to participate in the movement.