Congress Launches Nationwide Campaign to Save MGNREGA, Slams Centre's New Rural Jobs Scheme

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The Congress Working Committee (CWC) has pledged to protect the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) "at all costs" and will launch a nationwide campaign starting January 5. The party aims to take its message to every last village, criticizing the Centre's new rural jobs scheme, Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), or VB-G RAM G, as an attack on India's federal structure and the poor. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge stated that the party will lead the "MGNREGA Bachao Abhiyan" (Save MGNREGA Campaign) and fight for the rights of rural labourers to dignity, employment, fair wages, and timely payment. Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, compared the replacement of MGNREGA to demonetisation, accusing the government of disregarding the interests of the weaker sections. The BJP dismissed the Congress's allegations, with Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan accusing the Opposition of indulging in "purely political clamour" and shedding "crocodile tears". The new scheme, he said, emphasizes technology, transparency, and timely wage payments, ensuring funds are credited directly to workers' bank accounts. However, the Congress claims that the new scheme weakens the democratic framework and rural economy, leading to job losses and migration. Kharge described the scrapping of MGNREGA as a "cruel dismantling" of the rights-based, demand-driven programme, which has empowered marginalized communities and provided employment to millions of families. The Congress has vowed to launch a massive movement to protect MGNREGA and oppose the new law, comparing it to the successful farmers' movement that led to the repeal of the three controversial farm laws. The party will circulate leaflets highlighting the differences between the old and new schemes and will hold rallies, door-to-door drives, sit-in demonstrations, meetings, and distribution of leaflets to raise awareness about the issue. The party has also expressed concerns about the upcoming elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry, urging its leaders to campaign for the polls and monitor the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in 12 states closely.