KOHIMA: The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) on Wednesday launched a protest at Congress Bhavan, Kohima, opposing the proposed dilution or repeal of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), citing concerns over its impact on rural livelihoods and employment security.
The protest programme witnessed the participation of senior NPCC leaders, party workers, and supporters, who described MGNREGA as a vital social safety net for rural communities across India.
The event was chaired by Khriedi Theunuo, working president of the NPCC. Addressing the gathering, S Supongmeren Jamir, Member of Parliament and President of the NPCC, stressed the need to safeguard the MGNREGA Act, calling it one of the most effective welfare and employment guarantee schemes for rural India.
The keynote address was delivered by Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka, Member of Parliament and Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj. Ulaka alleged that the Central Government has been gradually weakening the MGNREGA scheme through underfunding, delayed payments, and policy changes.
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Highlighting the role of MGNREGA during the COVID-19 pandemic, Ulaka said the scheme played a crucial role in supporting rural households, preventing distress migration, and preserving the dignity of workers. He added that since its inception, MGNREGA has generated employment running into several hundred crore person-days, making it one of the most impactful rural employment programmes in the country.
Referring to the situation in Nagaland, Ulaka pointed out that the state continues to have among the lowest daily wage rates under MGNREGA and alleged that significant amounts towards material costs and wage payments have remained pending for a prolonged period.
Warning against proposed policy changes, Ulaka said shifting financial responsibility to states and introducing discretionary allocation mechanisms could dilute the rights-based nature of the Act. He added that such measures undermine decentralised governance and weaken rural livelihood security.
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Announcing a 45-day protest campaign, Ulaka said the movement will begin in Nagaland and extend to other parts of the country. The campaign will include district-level press conferences, symbolic fasts, and panchayat-level outreach programmes to raise awareness among rural stakeholders.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by C. Apok Jamir, Working President of the NPCC.
The protest marks the beginning of a broader campaign by the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee to oppose any move that could weaken or dismantle the MGNREGA Act, which remains a cornerstone of rural employment and social security in India.
