Congress Takes to Streets in Jharkhand Against Proposed MNREGA Amendments

Opposing the Central Government’s proposed changes to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA), the Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee on Monday organised a foot march under the banner MNREGA Bachao Sangram. The march was led by state Congress president Keshav Mahato Kamlesh and proceeded from Bapu Vatika to Lok Bhavan.

The march was attended by Jharkhand Congress in-charge K. Raju as the chief guest, while senior leaders Siribela Prasad, Bhupendra Maravi and Pranav Jha were present as special guests. Before the march, Congress leaders and workers paid floral tribute to Mahatma Gandhi and took a pledge to continue their struggle against the proposed amendments to the MNREGA law.

Addressing the gathering, K. Raju said MNREGA was enacted by the UPA government as a legal right guaranteeing 100 days of employment to rural households, with work planning vested in Gram Panchayats. He stated that the scheme strengthened grassroots democracy, provided economic security to poor families and gained global recognition as a successful rural development model. During the COVID-19 pandemic, MNREGA played a crucial role in providing livelihood support to migrant workers who returned to villages, he added. Raju alleged that the proposed law would centralise decision-making, curtail workers’ right to demand employment and introduce contractors, which goes against the original spirit of MNREGA.

Keshav Mahato Kamlesh said that while MNREGA’s budget consistently increased during the UPA regime, it has witnessed repeated cuts under the BJP-led government. He criticised the shift in Centre-State funding ratio from 90:10 to 60:40, calling it a severe financial burden on states. He also objected to restrictions on employment demand and warned that non-BJP ruled states would suffer disproportionately due to increased centralisation.

Leader of the Congress Legislature Party Pradeep Yadav alleged that the Central Government is systematically diluting public welfare laws, warning that such moves threaten democratic rights. CLP deputy leader Rajesh Kachhap accused the BJP of undermining the rural economy and said several reversals, including the rollback of farm laws, came only after sustained opposition.

Rajya Sabha MP Sukhdeo Bhagat, Finance Minister Dr Radhakrishna Kishore, Health Minister Dr Irfan Ansari, Rural Development Minister Deepika Pandey Singh and Agriculture Minister Shilpi Neha Tirkey also addressed the rally, criticising the proposed changes as anti-poor and detrimental to rural livelihoods. They asserted that reducing MNREGA’s budget while promising increased workdays was misleading and would weaken states with large tribal and rural populations.

The meeting was conducted by working president Shehzada Anwar, while Mahila Congress president Rama Khalkho proposed the vote of thanks. National Advisory Council member Jean Drèze was present as a special invitee.

Several MPs, MLAs, former union minister Subodh Kant Sahay, senior Congress leaders and thousands of party workers and MNREGA labourers participated in the programme.