Overview
- Congress reviewed its 45‑day MGNREGA Bachao Sangram and will escalate to panchayat‑level outreach followed by ward sit‑ins, legislature gheraos and zonal rallies.
- Rahul Gandhi is slated to join an MGNREGA chaupal in Rae Bareli on January 20 as the party alleges the new Act removes enforceable work guarantees, transfers powers from panchayats and raises state costs.
- In Karnataka, Congress announced five‑kilometre padayatras in every constituency and a January 27 gherao, with a special legislature session from January 22–30 to debate the replacement of MGNREGA.
- Rural development minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan called Congress claims “lies,” saying VB‑G RAM G ensures 125 workdays, unemployment allowance within 15 days, implementation in all panchayats and a six‑month rollout with MGNREGA continuing until then.
- NITI Aayog’s DMEO initiated a January–February evaluation of MGNREGS in eight Punjab districts via Deloitte and ORG India, as BJP leaders such as Haryana’s chief minister promote weekly wage payments, a 60‑day sowing/harvest pause and broader work categories under the new law.