NREGA Morcha Plans Decentralized Protests Against New Rural Jobs Act
NREGA Sangharsh Morcha announces decentralized protests against the Viksit Bharat Act.
Photo by Anton Maksimov 5642.su
The NREGA Sangharsh Morcha has announced decentralized protests against the Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025. The first round of protests will be held on Republic Day across the country, aiming to pass resolutions against the new law in gram panchayats. The Morcha criticizes the new legislation for diluting the powers of gram panchayats and making the rural employment program a centrally sponsored scheme.
Nikhil Dey highlights the potential for the campaign to restore MGNREGA to become the largest decentralized agitation. The Congress party also organized a national convention of workers addressed by Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi.
Key Facts
Protests against: Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar Act
First protest: Republic Day
Criticism: Diluting gram panchayat powers
Goal: Restore MGNREGA
UPSC Exam Angles
GS Paper II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
GS Paper III: Issues related to poverty and hunger.
Potential question types: Analyzing the impact of policy changes on rural employment, evaluating the effectiveness of decentralized planning, assessing the role of social movements in influencing policy decisions.
Visual Insights
NREGA Protests: Republic Day 2026
Planned decentralized protests against the Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025 across India. This map shows states where protests are expected to be concentrated, based on NREGA Sangharsh Morcha's network.
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More Information
Background
The roots of MGNREGA can be traced back to the Employment Guarantee Scheme (EGS) first implemented in Maharashtra in 1972-73. This scheme aimed to provide manual labor to all adults in rural areas who needed work. The success of EGS inspired similar programs in other states and eventually led to the enactment of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) in 2005.
NREGA was a landmark legislation that legally guaranteed 100 days of wage employment to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work. The Act was later renamed Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in 2009. The core principle behind MGNREGA was to provide a social safety net and empower rural communities by creating productive assets and improving livelihoods.
The Act also emphasized decentralized planning, with gram panchayats playing a key role in identifying and implementing works.
Latest Developments
In recent years, MGNREGA has faced challenges including delayed wage payments, reduced budgetary allocations, and concerns about the quality of assets created. The COVID-19 pandemic saw a surge in demand for MGNREGA work as many migrant workers returned to their villages. This highlighted the scheme's importance as a safety net during economic crises.
There have been ongoing debates about increasing the number of guaranteed workdays under MGNREGA and expanding the scope of permissible works. The government has been focusing on convergence of MGNREGA with other rural development programs to enhance its impact. The introduction of the Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025, signals a potential shift in the approach to rural employment, with concerns raised about its impact on the decentralized nature of MGNREGA.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025, and why is it being protested?
The Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025 is a new rural jobs act that is being protested because the NREGA Sangharsh Morcha believes it dilutes the powers of gram panchayats and makes the rural employment program a centrally sponsored scheme.
2. What are the key criticisms of the Viksit Bharat Act according to the NREGA Sangharsh Morcha?
According to the NREGA Sangharsh Morcha, the key criticisms of the Viksit Bharat Act are that it dilutes the powers of gram panchayats and makes the rural employment program a centrally sponsored scheme.
3. What is the historical background of MGNREGA, and why is it relevant to the current protests?
The roots of MGNREGA can be traced back to the Employment Guarantee Scheme (EGS) first implemented in Maharashtra in 1972-73. The success of EGS inspired similar programs and eventually led to NREGA in 2005. The current protests aim to restore MGNREGA to its original decentralized form.
4. Why is the NREGA Sangharsh Morcha planning decentralized protests?
The NREGA Sangharsh Morcha is planning decentralized protests to oppose the Viksit Bharat Act and aims to pass resolutions against the new law in gram panchayats, hoping to restore MGNREGA.
5. What are the pros and cons of the Viksit Bharat Act from the perspective of rural employment?
Based on available information, the potential cons include diluting gram panchayat powers and making the program centrally sponsored. The pros are not explicitly mentioned in the provided text.
6. What is the significance of Republic Day in the context of the NREGA Morcha's protests?
Republic Day is the date chosen for the first round of decentralized protests against the Viksit Bharat Act, symbolizing a nationwide movement against the legislation.
7. How might the Viksit Bharat Act impact the common citizen in rural areas?
If the NREGA Sangharsh Morcha's concerns are valid, the Act could reduce the autonomy of gram panchayats in implementing rural employment schemes, potentially affecting the accessibility and effectiveness of these programs for common citizens.
8. What is the role of Gram Panchayats in MGNREGA, and how is it potentially affected by the new Act?
Gram Panchayats play a crucial role in implementing MGNREGA at the local level. The NREGA Sangharsh Morcha fears that the Viksit Bharat Act will dilute their powers, making the program more centrally controlled.
9. Who are the key personalities involved in the protests against the Viksit Bharat Act?
Key personalities involved include Nikhil Dey from the NREGA Sangharsh Morcha, as well as Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi from the Congress party.
10. What is the significance of the Mahapanchayat planned for February 2 in state capitals?
The Mahapanchayat planned for February 2 in state capitals signifies an escalation of the protests against the Viksit Bharat Act, aiming to mobilize wider support and pressure the government.
Practice Questions (MCQs)
1. Consider the following statements regarding the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA): 1. It legally guarantees 150 days of wage employment to every rural household. 2. The Act mandates that at least one-third of the beneficiaries shall be women. 3. Social audits of MGNREGA works are conducted by the Central Government. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A.1 and 2 only
- B.2 only
- C.1 and 3 only
- D.3 only
Show Answer
Answer: B
Statement 1 is incorrect as MGNREGA guarantees 100 days of wage employment. Statement 3 is incorrect as social audits are conducted by the Gram Sabha.
2. With reference to the Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025, which of the following statements is most likely to be a concern raised by the NREGA Sangharsh Morcha? A) The Act increases the number of guaranteed workdays under the rural employment program. B) The Act strengthens the role of gram panchayats in planning and implementation. C) The Act makes the rural employment program a centrally sponsored scheme, diluting the powers of gram panchayats. D) The Act focuses on creating durable assets and improving rural infrastructure.
- A.A
- B.B
- C.C
- D.D
Show Answer
Answer: C
The NREGA Sangharsh Morcha is protesting against the new legislation for diluting the powers of gram panchayats and making the rural employment program a centrally sponsored scheme.
3. Which of the following committees is/are associated with the evolution and assessment of rural employment programs in India? 1. Hanumantha Rao Committee 2. S.R. Hashim Committee 3. Mihir Shah Committee Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- A.1 only
- B.1 and 2 only
- C.2 and 3 only
- D.1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Answer: D
All the mentioned committees are associated with the evolution and assessment of rural employment programs in India. The Hanumantha Rao Committee focused on area planning, the S.R. Hashim Committee on urban poverty, and the Mihir Shah Committee on MGNREGA reforms.
4. Assertion (A): MGNREGA aims to enhance livelihood security of households in rural areas of the country by providing at least one hundred days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year. Reason (R): MGNREGA focuses primarily on creating individual assets for beneficiaries rather than community assets. In the context of the above statements, which one of the following is correct?
- A.Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
- B.Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A
- C.A is true but R is false
- D.A is false but R is true
Show Answer
Answer: C
Assertion A is true as MGNREGA aims to provide 100 days of wage employment. Reason R is false as MGNREGA focuses on creating both individual and community assets, with emphasis on community assets.