Karnataka CM Attacks Centre Over MGNREGA Plans
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has strongly criticised the Union government over reported plans to dilute or replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, calling the move an attack on rural livelihoods. He said any attempt to weaken MGNREGA would harm millions of poor households that depend on the scheme for assured employment and income security.
Allegations of Dilution and Centralisation
Addressing party workers and the media, Siddaramaiah accused the Centre of trying to dismantle a rights-based employment programme that guarantees work to rural families. He said MGNREGA has played a crucial role in supporting rural wages, empowering women, and strengthening local self-governance through panchayats. According to him, replacing the scheme with alternative models would remove the legal guarantee of work and shift financial and administrative burdens onto states.
Call for Nationwide Protests
The Karnataka Chief Minister announced plans for nationwide protests in coordination with the Congress party and allied organisations. He said the protests would aim to build public pressure against any rollback of the rural employment guarantee. Siddaramaiah compared the proposed mobilisation to earlier mass movements against central policies, stating that states must collectively resist decisions that affect rural welfare without adequate consultation.
Centre Yet to Confirm Policy Change
The Union government has not officially announced the repeal of MGNREGA. However, discussions around restructuring rural employment programmes have triggered political reactions. The issue has reignited debate over federalism, welfare priorities, and the future of rights-based social security schemes in India.
