The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) on Thursday launched a protest at Congress Bhavan, Kohima, opposing the proposed dilution or repeal of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), citing concerns over its potential impact on rural livelihoods and employment security.
The protest programme saw the participation of senior NPCC leaders, party workers, and supporters, who described MGNREGA as a crucial social safety net for rural communities across the country.
The event was chaired by Khriedi Theunuo, Working President of the NPCC.
Addressing the gathering, Member of Parliament and President of the NPCC, S Supongmeren Jamir emphasized the need to protect the MGNREGA Act, describing it as one of the most effective welfare and employment guarantee schemes for rural India.
In his keynote address, Member of Parliament and Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka alleged that the Central Government has been steadily weakening the MGNREGA scheme through underfunding, delayed wage payments, and policy-level changes.
Highlighting the importance of MGNREGA during the COVID-19 pandemic, Ulaka stated that the scheme played a critical role in supporting rural households, preventing distress migration, and upholding the dignity of workers. He added that since its inception, MGNREGA has generated employment amounting to several hundred crore person-days, making it one of the most impactful rural employment programmes in the country.
Download Nagaland Tribune app on Google Play
Referring to the situation in Nagaland, Ulaka pointed out that the state continues to record among the lowest daily wage rates under MGNREGA and alleged that substantial amounts related to material costs and wage payments have remained pending for an extended period.
Cautioning against proposed policy changes, Ulaka warned that shifting the financial burden to states and introducing discretionary allocation mechanisms could dilute the rights-based nature of the Act. He further stated that such measures undermine decentralised governance and weaken rural livelihood security.
Announcing a 45-day protest campaign, Ulaka said the movement would commence in Nagaland and later extend to other parts of the country. The campaign will include district-level press conferences, symbolic fasts, and panchayat-level outreach programmes aimed at creating awareness among rural stakeholders.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by C. Apok Jamir, Working President of the NPCC.
The protest marks the beginning of a broader campaign by the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee to oppose any move that could weaken or dismantle the MGNREGA Act, which continues to remain a cornerstone of rural employment and social security in India.
