Overview
- Chief ministers in Uttar Pradesh, Goa and Arunachal Pradesh detailed features such as 125 workdays, weekly wage payments with interest for delays, a 60‑day pause during peak farm seasons and a focus on durable, climate‑resilient assets.
- States highlighted stronger digital oversight through biometric attendance, geo‑tagging, satellite imagery, social audits and district ombudsmen to curb fraud and speed up grievance redressal.
- The BJP announced awareness drives in Karnataka and Punjab to counter what it calls misinformation, with the Punjab campaign starting January 7 and Congress planning a ‘Save MGNREGA’ protest from January 8.
- Economist Jean Drèze and Jharkhand NREGA Watch argued the repeal weakens the right to work via a ‘switch‑off’ power, heavier reliance on technology and greater fiscal burden on states, and they set a February 2 rally in Ranchi.
- Early on‑ground reactions from workers in Chhattisgarh welcomed the increase to 125 days and quicker payments, citing potential income gains and reduced need to migrate.