Overview
- Telangana’s Assembly unanimously urged the Centre to withdraw the VB‑GRAMG law and restore the original MGNREGA, citing threats to a rights‑based guarantee and women’s participation.
- Karnataka’s Cabinet condemned the repeal, with the state signaling a possible movement and its own rural jobs legislation, arguing the new framework centralizes control and raises state costs.
- At a press meet, worker groups, civil society and legal experts demanded the new Act be scrapped, warning of a 60:40 Centre‑state cost share, a proposed 60‑day seasonal break, and loss of justiciable right to work.
- Economist Vinod Vyasulu estimated Karnataka’s annual outlay could rise from ₹573 crore to about ₹2,729 crore to maintain recent employment levels, potentially exceeding ₹7,573 crore if extended to 125 days.
- Rural development data show 18.44 million people sought MGNREGS work in December, down 28.4% year‑on‑year, as the Congress prepares a nationwide protest from Bandlapalli on February 5.