Hyderabad: Making a blistering attack on the Modi government’s “destructive” MGNREGA overhaul, Minister for Irrigation and Civil Supplies N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Thursday described the move as a “death sentence” for rural workers. He vowed to launch a nationwide agitation to defend the landmark rural employment guarantee scheme.
Addressing a meeting of the TPCC working committee at Gandhi Bhavan, Reddy condemned the Centre’s decision to replace the existing Act with a new legislation, stating that it undermined the very foundation of rural employment security. He accused the BJP of systematically weakening the scheme, which he described as a revolutionary initiative envisioned by Congress leader Sonia Gandhi.
Reddy highlighted the transformative role played by the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act in rural India. He said the legislation ensured employment, dignity, and financial security for the rural poor, crediting Sonia Gandhi’s sustained efforts for bringing the law into force and securing job guarantees for millions.
MGNREGA overhaul threatens rural job security and dignity
The minister alleged that the Modi government targeted MGNREGA primarily due to its association with the Gandhi name and the Congress party’s legacy. He claimed that key provisions of the Act, including the right to work and assured minimum wages, had been effectively nullified. According to him, job card holders were earlier guaranteed at least 100 days of employment at fair wages.
Reddy further criticised the removal of administrative powers from Gram Panchayats under the scheme, stating that this move diluted its grassroots character. He alleged that the central government had reduced its financial commitment by cutting the budget by 40 percent and shifting the burden onto state governments, calling it an unbearable strain on states and rural livelihoods.
Calling for strong resistance, Reddy urged Congress workers across Telangana to mobilise against the changes. He proposed passing resolutions in all 12,000 Gram Panchayats demanding restoration of MGNREGA in its original form. These resolutions, he said, would be submitted to the President of India.
Concluding his address, Reddy called for a sustained agitation to revive the core principles of the law, stressing that the fight must continue until full job and wage guarantees are restored.
