In a bold stand against what they call the government’s plan to dismantle a key rural employment scheme, Congress leader Ajay Rai announced massive protests across India. The party vows to hold fasts in every district to save MGNREGA, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, which has been a lifeline for millions in villages.
Ajay Rai, a prominent Uttar Pradesh Congress figure, led the charge at a press conference in Lucknow. He accused the ruling dispensation of systematically undermining MGNREGA through budget cuts and bureaucratic hurdles. ‘This is not just an attack on jobs; it’s an assault on the poor,’ Rai thundered, rallying workers and farmers who depend on the scheme’s 100 days of guaranteed wage employment.
The protests kick off immediately, with dharnas and rallies planned in state capitals. But the real heat comes next week: a coordinated ‘Save MGNREGA’ fast by Congress workers nationwide. Rai emphasized the scheme’s role in pulling families out of poverty, citing data showing over 80 million households benefiting annually before recent slashes.
Opposition to MGNREGA isn’t new. Critics argue it’s inefficient and prone to leakages, but Congress counters that fixes like digital payments have addressed most issues. Rai pointed to states like Rajasthan under Congress rule, where the scheme thrives, creating jobs and boosting local economies.
As rural distress mounts amid inflation and farm woes, this movement could galvanize discontent. Will the government’s silence break? Or will Congress’s fasts force a policy U-turn? The coming days will tell, with eyes on Delhi’s response.