A peaceful procession titled ‘MGNREGA Bachao Sangram’ at BHU met stiff resistance from police today, prompting sharp criticism from NSUI President. The event spotlighted vulnerabilities in India’s premier rural employment guarantee scheme, rallying students to defend it from perceived assaults.
MGNREGA has been a cornerstone of social security, disbursing wages to the poorest through community projects like water conservation and road building. Protesters argued that slashing funds would devastate rural economies, pushing laborers into urban slums. Their march symbolized resistance against policy shifts favoring privatization.
As the group approached key campus junctions, police swiftly deployed barriers and warned of dispersal. Scuffles were avoided, but the blockade fueled accusations of overreach by state machinery. BHU officials prioritized order, citing precedents of unruly protests affecting studies.
This isn’t isolated; similar agitations have cropped up across universities, reflecting youth angst over job scarcity. Data shows MGNREGA’s role in empowering women—over 55% of workers—and buffering against climate shocks. Yet, operational challenges persist, from delayed payments to material corruption.
NSUI leaders plan escalations, including hunger strikes, to keep momentum. The BHU episode reignites discourse on balancing activism with institutional discipline, potentially influencing policy reviews ahead of monsoons when demand peaks. For now, the message resonates: save MGNREGA, save rural India.