All India Congress Committee in charge of Manipur, Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka, on Monday announced that the Congress party will launch a 45-day nationwide protest beginning January 10 to demand the repeal of the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act, 2025, which he said has effectively replaced the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
Addressing reporters at Congress Bhavan, Ulaka said that during the recent session of Parliament, the Union government abruptly introduced the VB-G RAM G Act, doing away with MGNREGA, a flagship employment programme launched by the United Progressive Alliance in 2005. He alleged that the new legislation undermines the original intent of providing guaranteed employment and livelihood security to rural households.
Ulaka pointed out that under MGNREGA, the funding pattern mandated a 90 per cent contribution from the Centre and 10 per cent from the states. However, the new Act proposes to alter this ratio to 60 per cent central funding and 40 per cent state contribution. He expressed concern that many state governments are already under severe financial stress and would be unable to shoulder the increased burden, thereby jeopardising the implementation of the scheme.
Referring to the Congress Working Committee meeting held on December 27, Ulaka said the party unanimously resolved to launch a sustained nationwide agitation against what he described as a draconian Act. He stated that the 45-day protest, termed the “MGNREGA Bachao Sangram”, will be organised across the country from January 10 to February 25, culminating in zonal-level rallies to pressure the Union government to repeal the law.
Ulaka also criticised what he called repeated attempts to alter the legacy associated with the Father of the Nation, describing such moves as unfortunate and condemnable.
Appealing for wider participation, Ulaka urged civil society organisations, intellectuals and the youth of Manipur to actively join the campaign, asserting that collective resistance was essential to protect rural employment rights and livelihoods.