Punjab Newsline, Mohali-
Senior Congress leader and former Punjab Health Minister Balbir Sidhu today launched a large-scale awareness campaign under the “MGNREGA Bachao Sangram” by holding important meetings with panchayat members and villagers in Kurra, Mote Majra, Tangori, Kurdi, Shekhan Majra, Nagri and Gige Majra villages.
During these meetings, the labour-, farmer- and poor-friendly policies of the Modi-led Central Government were strongly condemned. Balbir Sidhu said that the Centre had deliberately withheld funds for the MGNREGA scheme earlier, with the intention of gradually dismantling this public welfare programme. Its direct impact is being borne by poor rural workers, Dalits, women and dependent families.
He said that MGNREGA is the lifeline of the poor and the working class, but the BJP government at the Centre is attacking the rights of the poor to benefit corporate houses. The Congress Party will not tolerate this at any cost. Sidhu stated that earlier, nearly 90 percent of the total MGNREGA funding came from the Central Government, but the new bill has reduced this to just 60 percent. This will increase the financial burden on states and put additional pressure on their already fragile economies.
He added that changing the name of MGNREGA and altering its rules is a direct attack on the interests of the working class. This scheme is a historic contribution of the Congress Party, which provided employment to millions of families. However, the BJP government is trying to erase this truth. Rural development took place and workers were spared forced migration to cities, but the Central Government is unable to accept this reality. That is why it is attempting to erase the identity of the scheme, which is extremely shameful.
Sidhu said that workers across the country are voicing their pain—wages are pending for months in many places, and in others, the poor are being pushed out of work in the name of online attendance and technical rules. Now, the Centre’s move to rename the scheme and introduce changes is part of a conspiracy to reduce MGNREGA to a mere paper programme.
Balbir Sidhu categorically stated that Punjab Congress will fight for workers’ rights from the streets to Parliament and will continue its struggle until the MGNREGA scheme is fully restored. The Congress demands that the Central Government immediately release funds, ensure 100 days of work, and guarantee timely payment of wages.
On this occasion, panchayat members and villagers also strongly protested against the Centre’s anti-labour policies and announced that they would stand shoulder to shoulder with the Congress Party in its struggle to save MGNREGA.
On this occasion, Harkesh Chand Sharma of Machhli Kalan, Pradeep Singh Tangori, Manjit Singh Tangori, Davinder Singh Kurda, Nahar Singh, Sarpanch of Kurdi, Harnek Singh Dhol Kurdi, Manjit Singh Motemajra, Jagjit Singh Sekhanmajra, Kaka Singh Sekhanmajra, and Sevak Singh Sekhanmajra were also present.