Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has urged the public to back the Congress-led protest nationwide until the repeal of the VB-G RAM G Act and the restoration of MGNREGA. He criticized the new Act for undermining rural employment rights and launched the “Save MGNREGA” campaign. Siddaramaiah highlighted that MGNREGA, initiated in 2005, aimed to provide job opportunities to laborers, Adivasis, small farmers, and women under the leadership of Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi.
He expressed concern that the current government is diluting pro-people laws like Right to Education, Right to Food, and Right to Information. Siddaramaiah emphasized that the Central government passed the new Act hastily with minimal parliamentary debate, affecting millions who previously benefited from MGNREGA. He stressed that the new system centralizes decision-making, depriving Gram Panchayats of autonomy and funding for local projects.
The Chief Minister insisted on the restoration of MGNREGA, which guaranteed 100 days of wages, in contrast to the new Act’s funding model where the Centre provides 60% and States cover 40%. He argued that this setup undermines State interests, leading to widespread protests demanding the repeal of VB-G RAM G Act and the reinstatement of MGNREGA. Siddaramaiah listed key demands, including scrapping the new scheme, reviving MGNREGA, ensuring employment rights, empowering Panchayats, and setting a nationwide minimum wage of Rs 400 per day.
The agitation will persist until these demands are met, with Siddaramaiah drawing parallels to the successful farmer protests. He called on all segments of society to unite in support of MGNREGA’s revival, emphasizing its crucial role in uplifting rural communities.
