Congress is gearing up for a nationwide showdown over MGNREGA’s future. Senior leader Ajay Rai declared the party’s intent to protest vigorously against perceived moves to end the flagship rural jobs program, culminating in mass fasting events across the country.
Speaking to a packed audience of party workers, Rai painted a grim picture of rural India without MGNREGA. ‘The BJP wants to kill this scheme that empowers the weakest,’ he said, highlighting how it provides minimum wages during lean seasons, preventing migration and hunger.
The action plan is clear: demonstrations in hundreds of districts starting today, followed by indefinite fasts by local leaders. Rai slammed the center for reducing funds from Rs 40,000 crore peaks to current lows, forcing states to foot extra bills. He shared stories of laborers in UP’s Bundelkhand region, left jobless and desperate.
MGNREGA, launched in 2005 under UPA, guarantees 100 days of work per rural household. Despite implementation glitches, it’s credited with reducing poverty by 32% in participating areas, per independent studies. Congress demands full funding restoration and Aadhaar-free payments.
This isn’t mere politics; it’s a fight for survival amid rising unemployment. With elections looming, Rai’s call could swell into a larger anti-government wave. The PMO watches closely as fasting tents dot the map.