The Congress conducted a thorough online review meeting with Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) officials and members of the MGNREGA Coordination Committee to evaluate the ongoing MGNREGA Bachao Sangram nationwide. Strengthening the movement, the party announced that Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, will participate in a MGNREGA Chaupal in Rae Bareli on January 20. Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal, leading the meeting, expressed that the campaign has been invigorating rural workers and panchayats, serving as a robust opposition to what the party deems the “anti-people VB-G RAM G Act.”
The review highlighted the movement’s increasing impact and success in various states, energizing rural workers and panchayats. The leaders committed to enhancing outreach at the panchayat level by engaging directly with the public, MGNREGA workers, and other stakeholders. The strategy involves organizing ward-level peaceful sit-ins, followed by Vidhan Sabha and Lok Bhavan gheraos, along with zonal rallies. Venugopal emphasized the importance of executing these activities in a structured and sustained manner to maximize participation and influence.
The event aims to reinforce the party’s dedication to protecting the rights and dignity of rural workers, while amplifying the voices of those reliant on the program for livelihood security. Venugopal described the MGNREGA Bachao Sangram as a symbol of resistance and reiterated the Congress’s commitment to persist until the scheme is fully reinstated in its original form. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), offering a minimum of 100 days of wage employment to rural households, has long been a crucial support for millions of workers.
The Congress alleges that recent policy modifications have diluted the essence and effectiveness of the program, leading to the nationwide campaign. Through the upcoming Chaupal in Rae Bareli and a series of planned protests, the party aims to mobilize grassroots backing and exert pressure on the government to uphold the scheme’s core principles.
