Leaders and workers of the Indian National Congress on Friday staged a protest outside the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state office in Shillong, opposing the Centre’s recent changes to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and alleging that the scheme is being “weaponised” for political purposes in Meghalaya.
Addressing reporters during the protest, Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) secretary Badwar said the proposed restructuring of MGNREGA was not a mere renaming exercise but a direct attack on the constitutional right to employment.
“The discontinuation of MGNREGA and its conversion into what is being called ‘Jayramji’ is not just a change of name. It strikes at the fundamental constitutional right of every citizen to work,” Badwar said.
He alleged that the new framework removes the guaranteed 100 days of employment, making job availability dependent on government discretion and funding availability.
“This shifts the pressure from the government to the public. The guaranteed right to work is being diluted,” he added.
Badwar warned that the move could severely impact rural communities and turn a welfare programme into a political tool.
“This effectively weaponises a welfare scheme. Communities will suffer depending on the political will of the ruling party. Villagers who earlier had assured employment may now be left without work, pushing families into debt,” he said.
Highlighting the broader social impact, the MPCC leader said the changes could force children out of schools to support family income, depress rural wages due to labour oversupply, and increase exploitation by moneylenders.
“In a state like Meghalaya, where a large section of the population depends on the 100-day employment scheme, this could cripple households economically,” Badwar said.
Calling for a united stand, he urged non-governmental organisations, other political parties, and the general public to join the movement against the Centre’s decision.
“We are not a rich state. Our per-capita GDP is among the lowest in the country. We must stand together to protect our villagers and uphold the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi,” he asserted.