The Dimapur District Congress Committee has sounded the alarm against a proposed legislative change it claims could unravel a crucial rural safety net. On Saturday, the committee's president, Kutoho Chishi, formally launched the 'MGNREGA Bachao Sangram' (Save MGNREGA Struggle) campaign, declaring it a vital fight for the economic security of Nagaland's villages.
Campaign Aims to Expose Threats to Job Guarantee
Addressing a press conference at the Congress Bhavan in Dimapur, Chishi outlined the campaign's core mission. He stated that the 45-day initiative, which commenced on January 8, is designed to educate the public and the media on the dangers posed by the VB-GRAM-G Act to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
Chishi cautioned that the new legislation could fundamentally undermine MGNREGA by restricting its job guarantee promise, reducing crucial funding, and altering implementation mechanisms. He argued that these changes would likely exclude the most vulnerable communities, directly endangering livelihoods and the socio-economic stability of rural areas across Nagaland and India.
Mobilising Public Opinion and Action
The campaign's primary objective is to build strong public opposition and pressure policymakers. Chishi stressed the need to preserve MGNREGA in its original form, as it safeguards the constitutional right to work. The initiative explicitly calls for the withdrawal of the VB-GRAM-G Act and the full restoration of MGNREGA's provisions to ensure uninterrupted work opportunities for rural labourers.
To achieve this, the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee will orchestrate a series of peaceful, non-violent protests statewide. The party plans to use constitutional means to demand accountability from the government. The Dimapur district unit has urgently appealed to the administration to reconsider the bill's implications and initiate a sincere dialogue with all stakeholders to protect rural workers' interests.
A Calendar of Protests Across Nagaland
The 45-day programme will see sustained activism on the ground. The district Congress has issued a call to action for the people of Dimapur, civil society organisations, and concerned citizens. The planned events include:
- Panchayat-level outreach programmes to raise awareness in villages.
- Ward-level sit-in protests observed on Martyrs' Day.
- District-level dharnas (sit-in demonstrations) scheduled from January 31 to February 6.
These actions are framed as a collective effort to defend MGNREGA and uphold the dignity of labour. The Congress leadership asserts that the campaign is not merely political but a necessary struggle for economic justice and rural empowerment in the face of potential policy shifts that could destabilise millions of households.
