Kakching, January 10: The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), introduced during the UPA government, is not merely a welfare scheme but a legal right of the people, providing employment to lakhs of rural poor across the country. However, this guaranteed right is now under threat, as attempts are being made to weaken the Act by changing its name and diluting its provisions, thereby depriving landless labourers and poor workers of their rightful entitlements. This was stated by former MLA of Kakching Kendra, Yengkhom Surchandra, while addressing the gathering today.
He was speaking at a public meeting organised in connection with the MGNREGA Bachao Sangram, held at his residence at Turel Wangoo.
Addressing the gathering, Yengkhom Surchandra said that MGNREGA was enacted as a landmark legislation to provide at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in a year to rural labourers. He said that any attempt to rename, amend or weaken the Act would amount to an attack on the rights of the people. He further stated that the Centre’s move to reduce its funding share and shift financial responsibility—40 per cent to the State and 60 per cent to the Union—has adversely affected workers’ rights. He alleged that the BJP-led government is trying to undermine people’s rights by pushing divisive policies based on religion and communal considerations.
Chairman of the OBC Department, Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee, Md. Sakir Ahamed, also addressed the meeting. He said that the present government’s move to dilute or scrap the Act would directly affect the Right to Work and the Right to Wages. He warned that if MGNREGA is weakened, unemployment will increase, rural workers will be forced into insecure and exploitative labour, migration from rural areas to cities will rise, and the powers of Panchayats will be curtailed.
He added that Congress is committed to safeguarding the interests of workers by ensuring guaranteed employment, guaranteed wages and accountability. He asserted that MGNREGA cannot be renamed or diluted, as it is a constitutional right of the people, and demanded that daily wages under the scheme be increased to Rs 400 to cope with rising living costs.
The programme was attended by Working President of Kakching District Congress Committee, Yengkhom Achou; former President of Block Congress Committee Kakching, Ksh. Chaoba; Vice President, Block Congress Committee Kakching, M. Brojen; General Secretary, Block Congress Committee, N. Shamu; Leishangthem Brojen; Naorem Nabachandra, along with several leaders and workers of the District and Block Congress Committees.
