Civil society groups and founding architects of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) have declared that nationwide protests against the government's move to end the flagship scheme will commence this week. They have accused the Modi administration of using its parliamentary majority to dismantle a rural livelihood programme born from extensive national consensus.
Coalition of Critics Slams New Legislation
Intellectuals, advocacy groups, and founding members associated with MGNREGA united to condemn the proposed "VB-G RAM G" bill. They argue that its provisions will effectively terminate the job guarantee, severely impacting socially vulnerable groups who rely on it for survival. The press conference was addressed by the NREGA Sangharsh Morcha, a coalition featuring prominent economists like Jean Dreze—a key figure in the Sonia Gandhi-headed National Advisory Council that drafted the original scheme—Prabhat Patnaik, and Jayati Ghosh. Other notable voices included Annie Raja, Yogendra Yadav, B Venkat of the All India Agricultural Workers Union, Mukesh Nirvasit, and several NGOs and activists.
The coalition expressed deep concern over the proposed shift of the financial burden to states, arguing that it renders the new programme uncertain as most states are already cash-strapped. They warned that this move would dismantle a crucial social safety net.
End of a Right-Based Approach
The critics highlighted a fundamental shift in the philosophy of the scheme. Economist Jayati Ghosh stated that the new Bill removes the "right-based approach", transforming MGNREGA from a legal entitlement into a discretionary "gift" from the government. She drew a parallel with other welfare measures, noting, "We have seen the pattern... Right to food is a right, but now we have ration bags coming with the PM's photo on it."
Prabhat Patnaik emphasized that a mere parliamentary majority cannot undo the national consensus that led to MGNREGA's enactment. He asserted that the Modi government must forge an "alternative consensus" if it intends to repeal the landmark legislation.
Creating Conflict and Uncertainty
Activist B Venkat accused the government of attempting to create a conflict between farmers and agricultural workers. He criticized a specific provision to pause the scheme during peak agricultural seasons, claiming it was "brought in just to please those who control the land."
Jean Dreze pointed out the inherent contradiction in the new framework. He explained, "The Union government would now have full power to decide when and where to implement the scheme, while the obligation is on the states. It is like saying I give a work guarantee, but don’t guarantee that the guarantee will be in place." This, he argued, strips the programme of its core guarantee and leaves its implementation to the whims of the central government and the financial capacity of states.
The coalition's announcement sets the stage for a significant wave of public dissent, framing the upcoming protests as a defence of a programme they believe is vital for rural India's economic security.
