Overview
- Telangana’s Assembly unanimously urged the Centre to withdraw the VB‑GRAMG law and restore MGNREGA, citing harms to women workers, vulnerable groups and local planning.
- Punjab had passed a similar resolution days earlier, making Telangana the second state legislature to formally oppose the new framework.
- The Congress announced a countrywide ‘MGNREGA Bachao’ mobilisation, with preparatory meetings on January 8 and actions planned from January 10 to February 25, and signalled a possible court challenge.
- Rural development ministry data show December demand for MGNREGS work fell about 28% year‑on‑year to 18.44 million people following the law’s passage.
- Activists and economists warn the law raises the headline cap to 125 days but shifts costs to states under a 60:40 split, with Karnataka’s annual burden estimated at ₹2,729 crore for current workloads and over ₹7,573 crore if extended to 125 days.