NREGA Sangharsh Morcha and the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) have called for an all-India strike by Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) workers on May 15, protesting the Union Government’s decision to discontinue the rural employment scheme.
The call for the nationwide agitation comes after the Centre issued a notification on Monday stating that the Act will stand repealed from July 1, 2026. The announcement has triggered concern among workers’ organisations and farmer groups, who described MGNREGA as a crucial support system for rural households across the country.
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In a statement, AIKS termed MGNREGA the “only legal guarantee of employment” available to rural workers and said the scheme has acted as an economic lifeline for poor peasants, agricultural labourers, women and unemployed rural youth.
The organisation alleged that repeated budget cuts, delayed wage payments and increasing technological requirements were already weakening the programme before the repeal decision. It further claimed that measures such as facial recognition-based attendance and payment systems had created barriers for workers, particularly in rural areas with poor digital access.
AIKS also criticised the VB-G RAM(G) Act, alleging that it undermined the rights-based nature of the scheme and weakened rural livelihoods.
Along with opposing the repeal, workers’ groups have put forward several demands, including withdrawal of the VB-G RAM(G) Act, expansion of MGNREGA to at least 200 days of guaranteed employment annually and a minimum daily wage of ₹700 linked to inflation.
The organisations have also demanded removal of what they termed “exclusionary” attendance and payment mechanisms and called for a stronger role for Gram Sabhas in the planning and implementation of rural works.
The May 15 strike is expected to witness participation from MGNREGA workers and farmer organisations across multiple states.
