Cong intensifies ‘MGNREGA Bachao’ campaign
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 20: The JKPCC working president Raman Bhalla today continued the Congress Party’s mass outreach campaign under the banner of “MGNREGA Bachao Sangram”, launched by the All India Congress Committee (AICC), to protest against the Union Government’s decision to change the name of the historic Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) at village Tootray, Panchayat Meshian, Block RS Pura.
Addressing the gathering, Bhalla said that MGNREGA is not merely a government scheme but a symbol of social justice, dignity of labour and inclusive development, closely associated with the name and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi. He asserted that attaching Mahatma Gandhi’s name to the scheme was a conscious tribute to his ideals of rural self-reliance, empowerment of the poor and strengthening of village economies.
Bhalla compared the original objectives of MGNREGA with the present approach of the Union Government and alleged that instead of strengthening the scheme, ensuring timely wages and expanding employment days, the Government is indulging in symbolic changes driven by political vendetta. He pointed out that MGNREGA was envisioned to guarantee at least 100 days of wage employment, reduce rural distress, check migration, empower women and provide durable community assets.
PCC leader said that people are grappling with mounting unemployment, rising inflation, shrinking job opportunities, delayed MGNREGA payments, reduction in workdays, agrarian distress and lack of effective governance at the grassroots level. He expressed concern that rural households in J&K, which heavily depend on MGNREGA for survival, are being pushed into deeper economic insecurity due to policy neglect and administrative apathy. He raised other burning issues including unemployment, uncertainty over regular recruitment, price rise of essential commodities, weak healthcare and education infrastructure etc.
DCC president Neeraj Kundan reiterated the Congress party’s firm stand against any attempt to change the name of MGNREGA. He said that MGNREGA is not merely a welfare scheme but a historic, rights-based legislation that embodies the values of Mahatma Gandhi—dignity of labour, social justice and inclusive rural development.
Prominent among those who were present included- Amrit Bali, Pawan Bhagat, Yash Pal, Gurmeet Singh, Sanjeev Katal, Jasmeet Singh, Harbans Lal, Gazipur Kullian, Ayub Khan and others.
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