Workers linked to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in Punjab's Ludhiana district have launched a strong opposition against the Central government's proposed amendments to the landmark scheme. They warn that the changes would severely dilute the Act's core promise of guaranteed employment and leave rural laborers more vulnerable.
Unions Mobilize for Nationwide Protest
To consolidate their resistance, MGNREGA workers and their unions have announced a series of half-day conventions across Ludhiana district. The first of these will be held in Raikot, as part of the build-up to a nationwide protest scheduled for February. The conventions aim to educate workers about the potential impact of the amendments and gather momentum for the larger agitation.
Amarnath Koomkalan, general secretary of the MGNREGA Mazdoor Union, stated that workers are unanimously against any tinkering with the existing law. "We don't want any changes to the Act. We want to retain it in its original form," he asserted during a preparatory meeting.
Funding Shift and Payment Fears
A primary concern is the proposed alteration in the funding pattern between the Centre and states. Currently, the cost is shared in a 90:10 ratio. Workers fear this could be changed to a 60:40 ratio. Koomkalan highlighted that even under the current favorable ratio, the Punjab government is struggling to release payments to workers and staff.
"If the Centre changes the ratio to 60:40, it will become nearly impossible for the state to pay at all, because Punjab is already neck-deep in debt," he explained. This funding crisis could directly halt wage payments to lakhs of dependent workers.
End of Guarantee and Reduced Panchayat Power
Workers argue that the proposed changes fundamentally alter the nature of MGNREGA from a right-based guarantee to a conditional scheme. "Under the new system, it will no longer be a guarantee. Work will be provided only if there is a requirement identified and approved," Koomkalan said.
Another major point of contention is the reduced role of gram panchayats in deciding local work. Previously, panchayats could identify necessary projects like cleaning ponds, repairing drains, or improving infrastructure. "Now, work will depend on approval from Central government teams. This will delay projects as well as employment," Koomkalan added.
The unions have also dismissed official claims of guaranteeing 125 days of employment under the revised framework. They point to the ground reality in Punjab, where the average workdays provided are only about 36 days per year. "We are not even able to complete the mandatory 100 days, so these claims sound hollow," Koomkalan stated.
Stagnant Wages and Staff Anxieties
Wage levels remain a persistent grievance. MGNREGA workers in Punjab currently receive approximately Rs 346 per day. "We have been demanding a daily wage of Rs 700 because even field labourers earn more than us. Instead of increasing wages and strengthening the scheme, the government is making changes that leave us without any guarantee," Koomkalan lamented.
Even MGNREGA staff members have voiced apprehensions. An employee, requesting anonymity, said the proposed alterations threaten job security and the smooth release of grants. "The changes are totally unwelcome. We demand that MGNREGA be maintained in its present form," the employee said.
As the protest movement gains steam, union leaders are clear about their mission. "MGNREGA is not just a scheme; it is a lifeline for rural households. We will fight tooth and nail any move that weakens it," declared Amarnath Koomkalan, setting the stage for a major confrontation with the government in February.
