Congress to launch ‘save MGNREGA’ campaign in Karnataka on January 26, says DKS

Deputy Chief Minister and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president D.K. Shivakumar said here on Saturday that the Congress will launch “save Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005” campaign in the State on January 26 by holding ‘padayatras’ in each Assembly constituency.

Speaking to presspersons at the Mangaluru International Airport, the Deputy Chief Minister said that ‘padayatras’ will cover five to 10 k.m. distance in each Assembly segment.

The Union government has replaced the MGNREGA with Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act, 2025.

He said the MGNREGA had guaranteed annual works to the tune of ₹6,000 crore in the State as ₹1 crore per panchayat. Now the Union government has diluted MGNREGA, he alleged.

“We will create awareness on how the new legislation of the Centre will impact people in rural areas. We are also planning a two-day Legislature session to discuss VB-G RAM G. The padayatras will include panchayat members, labourers who benefited from MGNREGA, etc. The fight against VB-G RAM G will continue till MGNREGA is reinstated,” he said.