The South Goa District Congress Committee has strongly criticised the BJP-led government for altering the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), claiming that the changes will severely impact the livelihoods of unskilled workers in rural areas and weaken the role of village panchayats.
Addressing the issue as part of a nationwide protest, the Congress alleged that the revamped scheme places complete control in the hands of the BJP government, thereby undermining the decentralised structure of MGNREGA. The party warned that the changes would not only affect rural employment but also have serious repercussions for village panchayats that depend on the scheme for local development works.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
As part of its protest, the Congress put forward four key demands. First, the party demanded the immediate withdrawal of the VB–G RAM G Act, passed in December 2025, which has replaced the original MGNREGA. The Congress argued that the new legislation dilutes the core objectives of the employment guarantee programme.
Secondly, the party called for the restoration of MGNREGA as a rights-based law, insisting that employment under the scheme should remain a legal guarantee for rural households and not be subject to government discretion or central allocation limits.
The third demand focused on restoring the right to work and the constitutional authority of gram panchayats. The Congress said people should be able to demand work at any time of the year, and panchayats must regain their role in planning and implementing works, which they claim has been eroded by the new, centralised framework.
Finally, the Congress demanded a national minimum wage of ₹400 for MGNREGA workers, along with assured and timely payment of wages.
The party said it would continue its agitation until the government addresses these demands and safeguards the interests of rural workers and local self-governing institutions.
