NREGA Sangharsh Morcha slams Union budget, citing betrayal of rural workers

By A Representative

The NREGA Sangharsh Morcha (NSM) has strongly criticized the Union Budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year, alleging it betrays Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) workers and demonstrates the government's continued neglect of the rural workforce.

The budget allocation for MGNREGA remains at ₹86,000 crores, which, after adjusting for inflation, represents an approximate ₹4,000 crore decrease compared to the previous year. The allocation as a percentage of GDP has also fallen to a mere 0.24%, down from 0.26% in the last fiscal year. The budget also fails to account for routine wage indexation.

The NSM argues this inadequate funding will lead to several critical issues: massive delays in wage payments, further straining the financial stability of millions of rural workers; suppression of work demand, denying individuals their legal right to employment; and a decline in the creation of quality assets, weakening rural infrastructure.

The Morcha highlighted the current fiscal year's funding shortfall. As of February 1st, the deficit stands at ₹9,860 crores, with pending wages of ₹6,948.55 crores as of January 25th. With two months remaining in the financial year, the NSM points out that historically, an average of 20% of the budget is used to clear past dues. This pattern suggests the effective allocation for FY 2025-26 will likely be no more than ₹70,000 crores.

Data from the current fiscal year paints a grim picture, with person-days generated at 239.67 crore (as of February 1st, 2025), average workdays per household at just 44.62, and only 20,77,014 households completing 100 days of work. The NSM asserts this demonstrates the government's lack of commitment to fulfilling its legal obligations under MGNREGA.

The NSM contends that the government's strategy of a low initial allocation is a deliberate attempt to suppress work demand. They argue that a larger MGNREGA budget could have significantly boosted rural demand, especially at a time when the government is focusing on middle-class tax relief. They claim that inadequate budgets lead to wage delays, forcing workers into distress and discouraging participation in the program.

The NSM also noted that the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj had previously flagged the funding shortage as a major obstacle to MGNREGA's implementation, emphasizing its impact on timely wage payments and overall progress. The Committee had recommended increased funding, but these recommendations have been ignored.

The NSM recalled a December 2024 briefing of Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on the consequences of insufficient funding. They expressed disappointment that these concerns were not addressed in the budget. Despite protests and representations by workers, the NSM concludes that the government's actions represent a betrayal of those who depend on MGNREGA for survival.

Comments

N-power plant at Mithi Virdi: CRZ nod is arbitrary, without jurisdiction

By Krishnakant* A case-appeal has been filed against the order of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and others granting CRZ clearance for establishment of intake and outfall facility for proposed 6000 MWe Nuclear Power Plant at Mithi Virdi, District Bhavnagar, Gujarat by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) vide order in F 11-23 /2014-IA- III dated March 3, 2015. The case-appeal in the National Green Tribunal at Western Bench at Pune is filed by Shaktisinh Gohil, Sarpanch of Jasapara; Hajabhai Dihora of Mithi Virdi; Jagrutiben Gohil of Jasapara; Krishnakant and Rohit Prajapati activist of the Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a notice to the MoEF&CC, Gujarat Pollution Control Board, Gujarat Coastal Zone Management Authority, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and case is kept for hearing on August 20, 2015. Appeal No. 23 of 2015 (WZ) is filed, a...

1857 War of Independence... when Hindu-Muslim separatism, hatred wasn't an issue

"The Sepoy Revolt at Meerut", Illustrated London News, 1857 By Shamsul Islam* Large sections of Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs unitedly challenged the greatest imperialist power, Britain, during India’s First War of Independence which began on May 10, 1857; the day being Sunday. This extraordinary unity, naturally, unnerved the firangees and made them realize that if their rule was to continue in India, it could happen only when Hindus and Muslims, the largest two religious communities were divided on communal lines.

Spirit of leadership vs bondage: Of empowered chairman of 100-acre social forestry coop

By Gagan Sethi* This is about Khoda Sava, a young Dalit belonging to the Vankar sub-caste, who worked as a bonded labourer in a village near Vadgam in Banskantha district of North Gujarat. The year was 1982. Khoda had taken a loan of Rs 7,000 from the village sarpanch, a powerful landlord doing money-lending as his side business. Khoda, who had taken the loan for marriage, was landless. Normally, villagers would mortgage their land if they took loan from the sarpanch. But Khoda had no land. He had no option but to enter into a bondage agreement with the sarpanch in order to repay the loan. Working in bondage on the sarpanch’s field meant that he would be paid Rs 1,200 per annum, from which his loan amount with interest would be deducted. He was also obliged not to leave the sarpanch’s field and work as daily wager somewhere else. At the same time, Khoda was offered meal once a day, and his wife job as agricultural worker on a “priority basis”. That year, I was working as secretary...

Bangladesh alternative more vital for NE India than Kaladan project in Myanmar

By Mehjabin Bhanu* There has been a recent surge in the number of Chin refugees entering Mizoram from the adjacent nation as a result of airstrikes by the Myanmar Army on ethnic insurgents and intense fighting along the border between India and Myanmar. Uncertainty has surrounded India's Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport project, which uses Sittwe port in Myanmar, due to the recent outbreak of hostilities along the Mizoram-Myanmar border. Construction on the road portion of the Kaladan project, which runs from Paletwa in Myanmar to Zorinpui in Mizoram, was resumed thanks to the time of relative calm during the intermittent period. However, recent unrest has increased concerns about missing the revised commissioning goal dates. The project's goal is to link northeastern states with the rest of India via an alternate route, using the Sittwe port in Myanmar. In addition to this route, India can also connect the region with the rest of India through Assam by using the Chittagon...

Proposed Modi yatra from Jharkhand an 'insult' of Adivasi hero Birsa Munda: JMM

Counterview Desk The civil rights network, Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha (JMM), which claims to have 30 grassroots groups under its wings, has decided to launch Save Democracy campaign to oppose Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Vikasit Bharat Sankalp Yatra to be launched on November 15 from the village of legendary 19th century tribal independence leader Birsa Munda from Ulihatu (Khunti district).

NREGA Sangharsh Morcha demands rollback of NMMS App, restoration of workers’ rights

By A Representative The NREGA Sangharsh Morcha (NSM) has strongly demanded the immediate revocation of the National Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS) App used for recording workers’ attendance under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). Citing the Union Ministry of Rural Development’s (MoRD) July 8, 2025 directive acknowledging widespread misuse and discrepancies in the NMMS App, NSM accused the government of admitting to deep-rooted corruption while continuing to impose a failed digital system.

Two more "aadhaar-linked" Jharkhand deaths: 17 die of starvation since Sept 2017

Kaleshwar's sons Santosh and Mantosh Counterview Desk A fact-finding team of the Right to Feed Campaign, pointing towards the death of two more persons due to starvation in Jharkhand, has said that this has happened because of the absence of aadhaar, leading to “persistent lack of food at home and unavailability of any means of earning.” It has disputed the state government claims that these deaths are due to reasons other than starvation, adding, the authorities have “done nothing” to reduce the alarming state of food insecurity in the state.

Nuns' release highlights political calculus behind anti-conversion laws, Christian persecution

By John Dayal* The release last week from a Chhattisgarh jail of two Catholic nuns, arrested on charges of human trafficking and illegal conversion, offers little comfort to the scores of Christian pastors and believers incarcerated on similar charges under anti-conversion laws prevalent in a dozen Indian states.

A wake-up call for Uttarakhand: The human cost of unchecked development, environmental destruction

By Dr. Gurinder Kaur* On August 5, 2025, a cloudburst in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district caused significant destruction. A sudden surge in the Kheer Ganga river's flow triggered a flash flood that hit the town of Dharali, completely destroying 40–50 buildings and houses and claiming five lives. More than 100 people are still missing, including nine army personnel. Due to heavy rainfall and landslides, traffic has come to a complete halt on 163 roads and five national highways in the state. Rescue teams are continuously assisting people in the affected areas. A large number of pilgrims heading to Gangotri usually stay in Dharali, which is why there are many hotels, restaurants, and homestays in the town.

Search This Blog