The Sadar Hills District Congress Committee (SHDCC) on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the Narendra Modi-led Central government, accusing it of systematically weakening the constitutional Right to Work and pushing rural India towards hunger, unemployment and forced migration. As part of the nationwide “MGNREGA Bachao Sangram”, the Congress organised a one-day fast-cum-district-level press conference at NC Event Hall, Saparmeina.
The programme was held under the directives of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) and the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC). It was attended by MPCC General Secretary and SHDCC in-charge Sorkho George, MPCC Vice-President and PCC Member from the 51 Saitu Assembly Constituency Dr. Lamtinthang Haokip, BCC President R. Rengsinkhup Kharam, along with senior party leaders, grassroots workers and supporters.
Addressing the media, Congress leaders alleged that the Modi government has hollowed out the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), reducing a legally enforceable right into a discretionary welfare scheme controlled from New Delhi. They accused the Centre of weakening village-level self-governance and reintroducing contractor-driven systems through excessive centralisation.
The leaders outlined what they described as four major attacks on the Right to Work. They said MGNREGA originally guaranteed 100 days of employment to every rural household, to be provided within 15 days of demand. However, under the present regime, they claimed this legal guarantee has effectively been dismantled, with employment now being provided selectively and influenced by political considerations.
Expressing concern over stagnant wages and denial of work during crucial agricultural seasons, Congress leaders alleged that arbitrary wage fixation has pushed rural workers into distress. They described the situation as “institutionalised wage theft,” forcing workers into exploitative labour conditions without minimum wage protection.
The SHDCC further accused the Centre of undermining grassroots democracy by stripping Gram Panchayats of their authority to plan and execute development works. According to the leaders, powers have been centralised, contractors reintroduced, MGNREGA mates and Rozgar Sahayaks sidelined, and elected Panchayats reduced to mere implementing agencies.
Criticising changes in funding patterns, the Congress pointed out that while the Union Government earlier bore 100 per cent of wage costs, states are now required to contribute 40 per cent. This, they alleged, is a deliberate move to financially strain states, leading to cuts in rural employment and abandonment of vulnerable workers.
The leaders also accused the Centre of starving MGNREGA of funds, delaying wage payments, and imposing systems such as the Aadhaar-Based Payment System (ABPS) and the National Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS). They claimed these digital mechanisms have excluded crores of genuine workers and have become barriers to wage access rather than instruments of transparency.
Announcing the next phase of the movement, the SHDCC said Gram Sabhas across the country are being mobilised to pass resolutions demanding restoration of MGNREGA in its original spirit. These resolutions seek reinstatement of the legal guarantee of work on demand, year-round employment rights, protection of MGNREGA’s pan-India character, and restoration of Gram Panchayats’ authority to plan and implement projects.
Reiterating the Congress party’s stand, the SHDCC placed four non-negotiable demands before the government: guaranteed work, guaranteed wages and guaranteed accountability; immediate rollback of all anti-worker changes to MGNREGA; full restoration of the constitutional Right to Work; and a national minimum wage of ₹400 per day.
The leaders highlighted MGNREGA’s critical role in rural livelihoods over the past two decades, noting that it provided employment to 4.6 crore families during the COVID-19 pandemic, generated over 180 crore person-days of work, and contributed to the creation of durable rural assets.
Accusing the Centre of promoting a contractor-driven and centralised development model, Congress leaders asserted that the Modi government is weakening workers and villages. They warned that the MGNREGA Bachao Sangram would intensify from villages to Parliament until the Right to Work is fully restored.
