Echoing the spirit of grassroots activism, Congress has rolled out its ambitious ‘MGNREGA Bachao Sangram’ nationwide, positioning itself as the defender of rural India’s economic backbone. The launch events, marked by vibrant processions and fiery speeches, signal a renewed offensive against policies eroding the livelihoods of crores.
MGNREGA, enacted under Congress rule, guarantees 100 days of wage employment to rural households. Today, it’s under siege, claim campaigners, with payment delays averaging 50 days and budget allocations shrinking in real terms. In states like West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, local units are documenting grievances through mobile apps, building a digital dossier for parliamentary showdowns.
The strategy blends confrontation with consultation: town halls where workers voice pains, followed by memorandums to district collectors. A prominent leader in Punjab noted, ‘This scheme lifted 10 crore people out of poverty; we won’t let it wither.’ Data backs the urgency—unemployment demand under MGNREGA surged 50% post-pandemic, yet fulfillment lags.
Beyond protests, the party is pushing policy alternatives: integrating MGNREGA with climate-resilient farming and skill training. This holistic approach aims to modernize the scheme while preserving its core.
As BJP leaders mock it as ‘desperation politics,’ Congress sees an opportunity to reconnect with forgotten voters. The campaign’s success hinges on turning outrage into votes, a classic playbook in India’s polarized polity. With rural economies fragile, this ‘war’ could redefine electoral narratives come poll season.