Congress to Launch Nationwide 'MGNREGA Bachao Sangram' Against New Rural Employment Law

Congress Announces 'MGNREGA Bachao Sangram'

The Indian National Congress has announced a nationwide agitation, dubbed the 'MGNREGA Bachao Sangram' (Save MGNREGA Struggle), scheduled to commence on January 10, 2026, and conclude on February 25, 2026. The primary objective of this 45-day protest is to demand the withdrawal of the newly enacted Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-GRAM-G) Act and the restoration of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in its original, rights-based framework.

Addressing a joint press conference, Congress General Secretaries K.C. Venugopal and Jairam Ramesh stated that the party also seeks to restore the 'Right to Work' and the authority of Panchayati Raj institutions, which they claim have been undermined by the new legislation. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has also voiced the party's demands, including the withdrawal of the VB-GRAM-G Act and the restoration of MGNREGA as a rights-based law.

Key Grievances Against the VB-GRAM-G Act

The Congress party has outlined several critical concerns regarding the VB-GRAM-G Act, which received Presidential assent on December 21, 2025, replacing MGNREGA. According to Congress leaders:

• The new Act converts MGNREGA from a demand-driven, rights-based law into a budget-capped, discretionary program, thereby eroding the legal guarantee of employment.
• It leads to the centralization of decision-making concerning funds, works, and assets, significantly diminishing the role and authority of local self-governing bodies, the Panchayats.
• The Act imposes a 60:40 funding split between the Centre and states without consulting state governments, which Congress alleges is a violation of Article 258 of the Constitution and places an undue financial burden on states.
• Congress leaders argue that the new law 'silently kills' MGNREGA and could lead to underpayment and wage suppression for rural workers.
• Some party members have also objected to the alleged removal of Mahatma Gandhi's name from the scheme.

Structure of the Nationwide Agitation

The 'MGNREGA Bachao Sangram' is designed to be a multi-phased, decentralized protest, unlike previous Delhi-centric agitations. The schedule includes:

• Preparatory meetings at all State Congress headquarters starting from January 8.
• District-level press conferences on January 10.
• Day-long fasts and symbolic protests at district headquarters on January 11.
• Panchayat-level meetings and mass contact programs from January 12 to January 29.
• Ward-level sit-ins on January 30, coinciding with Martyrs' Day.
• District-level 'MGNREGA Bachao' dharnas from January 31 to February 6.
• State-level gheraos (picketing) of Vidhan Sabhas, Raj Bhawans, or Central government offices between February 7 and February 15.
• The agitation will culminate with four major zonal rallies across the country from February 16 to February 25.

The Congress also plans to explore all options, including legal challenges to the VB-GRAM-G Act in court, and will hold consultations with opposition-ruled states and partners within the INDIA bloc to coordinate further action.

Government's Response

In response to the Congress's planned protests, leaders from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have criticized the agitation as politically motivated. BJP representatives argue that the VB-GRAM-G scheme aims to increase guaranteed employment days and introduce necessary reforms. The BJP has also initiated its own outreach programs to counter the opposition's narrative and brief its functionaries on the new legislation.