The Indian National Congress has taken a decisive step to intensify its fight for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). The party has constituted a high-level, 11-member coordination committee to spearhead the 'MGNREGA Bachao Sangram' (Save MGNREGA Struggle), a nationwide movement protesting against significant fund reductions and persistent wage delays in the flagship rural jobs scheme.
Leadership and Committee Composition
The newly formed panel is a blend of senior parliamentarians and state leaders, ensuring a coordinated national effort. The committee will be led by Rajya Sabha MP Digvijaya Singh and Lok Sabha MP K Suresh as its convenors. Other prominent members include former Union Minister Jairam Ramesh, who has been vocally critical of the government's handling of MGNREGA, and MPs like Uttam Kumar Reddy, Phulo Devi Netam, and Ajoy Kumar.
The committee's composition reflects a pan-India focus, with representation from key states. Leaders such as Ganesh Godiyal from Uttarakhand, Sudha Yadav from Haryana, and Geetha Kothapalli from Andhra Pradesh are part of the team. Tamil Nadu's Jothimani and Karnataka's Karthik Chandru complete the list, bringing regional perspectives to the forefront of the agitation.
The Core of the Protest: Fund Cuts and Wage Delays
The 'MGNREGA Bachao Sangram' is a direct response to what the Congress party terms as the "systematic weakening" of the world's largest rural employment guarantee program. The primary grievances center on two critical issues. First, the party alleges a drastic reduction in budgetary allocation for MGNREGA by the central government, which it claims has severely curtailed the generation of work. Second, there are widespread complaints about inordinate delays in wage payments to workers who have already completed their assigned tasks, causing severe financial distress for millions of rural households.
Congress General Secretary K C Venugopal, in the official communication announcing the committee, stated that the panel's mandate is to coordinate and guide the party's agitation programs across the country related to these issues. The move signals a strategic shift from sporadic criticism to a structured, sustained campaign aimed at mobilizing public opinion and pressuring the government.
Political Implications and the Road Ahead
The formation of this dedicated committee underscores the political importance the Congress attaches to MGNREGA, a scheme that has been a cornerstone of its legacy in supporting rural livelihoods. By institutionalizing the protest, the party aims to keep the issue in the national spotlight, especially as it seeks to consolidate its position as the principal opposition force. The agitation is expected to involve demonstrations, press conferences, and public outreach programs in both rural and urban areas to highlight the alleged failures in the scheme's implementation.
This coordinated push also places the spotlight on the broader debate over rural development and social welfare spending. The Congress's 'MGNREGA Bachao Sangram' is poised to become a significant point of political contention, challenging the ruling dispensation's narrative on economic management and its commitment to protecting the interests of the rural poor. The effectiveness of this newly formed panel will be tested by its ability to translate political rhetoric into a groundswell of public support and tangible policy pressure.
