Rural workers protest across India against repeal of MGNREGA

By A Representative 

Tens of thousands of agricultural and rural workers took to the streets across the country on May 15, staging strikes, protests, and demonstrations against the dismantling of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (MGNREGA) by the central government.

Workers in Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka participated in coordinated strikes and rallies, according to a press release issued by the Joint Platform of Agricultural and Rural Workers' Unions and the NREGA Sangharsh Morcha. In thousands of gram panchayats, workers organised rallies and submitted memorandums to Gram Panchayats and Block Officials demanding the restoration of MGNREGA and the rollback of the newly introduced VB-GRAM(G) Act.

"The Platform of Central Trade Unions and Samyukt Kisan Morcha also extended full solidarity with MGNREGA workers and took to the streets to defend the rights of MGNREGA workers," the press release stated.

'Anti-worker' Legislation Under Fire

Workers and unions have sharply criticised the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgaar and Aajeevika Mission (Gramin) — VB-GRAM(G) — which was passed in December 2025 and is set to come into force on July 1, 2026, following which MGNREGA would stand repealed.

"The new law has been introduced in complete secrecy without any consultation with workers," the Joint Platform's press release noted, adding that while a list of basic FAQs was issued along with the notification on May 11, "the details of planning and implementation of works have still not been spelt out and rules have not been published either."

The All India Agricultural Workers' Union (AIAWU), in a separate press statement, described the passing of VB-GRAM(G) as having been done "in a completely unconstitutional way," stating that "the MGNREGA ceased to exist" as a result.

Workers say the architecture of VB-GRAM(G) significantly weakens the statutory guarantee of employment that MGNREGA has provided for over two decades. Data cited in the Joint Platform's release shows a sharp decline in employment generation: "only 21.3 crore persondays generated in April 2026 as opposed to 26.5 crore in April 2025, signifying a drop of over 20%."

Technology-driven Exclusions and Mounting Anger

The unions pointed to years of systematic weakening of MGNREGA by the BJP-led government since 2014. "Since the BJP came to power they made no effort in order to improve the deteriorating situation of MGNREGA or of the rural economy as a whole," the AIAWU statement said. "It considered MGNREGA as a joke which is evident from the remarks made by the Prime Minister Modi himself in the Parliament."

The AIAWU further alleged that the introduction of "exclusionary technology like the Aadhar Based Payment System (ABPS), facial technology, geo tagging, and direct bank transfers led to further exclusion of eligible workers from receiving work under the scheme," resulting in "deletion of crores of workers in just a few years."

The Joint Platform's release highlighted that the central government "has now imposed facial recognition for attendance, which is wreaking havoc at MGNREGA worksites and resulting in loss of wages for thousands of workers."

Workers also criticised the new law for "undermining the role of Gram Sabhas in planning works and centralising decision-making toward top-down infrastructure priorities under PM Gati Shakti," claiming "the rights-based framework is being undone to provide cheap labour for infrastructure and real estate lobbies."

Charter of Demands

Through the nationwide strike, agricultural and rural workers have placed four key demands before the central government, as outlined in the AIAWU press statement:

1. Roll back of VB-GRAM(G) and reinstating a strengthened form of MGNREGA

2. The strengthened framework must provide at least 200 days of work with a minimum wage of ₹700, adjusted yearly as per market inflation

3. Roll back of exclusionary technology for payments and attendance systems, including facial recognition

4. Empowering Gram Sabhas to be major stakeholders in MGNREGA works and implementation.

West Bengal Remains a Concern

The Joint Platform's release noted that "the situation remains especially alarming in West Bengal, where MGNREGA has remained stalled since December 2021 despite a Calcutta High Court order directing its resumption." Worker unions warned that repealing MGNREGA would "push millions of rural workers, especially women and the elderly, deeper into economic distress and exploitation."

The strike saw particularly strong participation in West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, "where lakhs of agricultural and rural workers participated in the strike through different forms of protests and demonstrations outside local government offices," according to the AIAWU. Successful strikes were also observed in Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Assam, Odisha, Karnataka and Tripura.

Warning of Further Action

The AIAWU described the May 15 action as "just a warning strike to the BJP-led central government," adding that "if these demands are not met by the central government or if no positive development takes place in this direction then the agricultural and rural workers across the country will resolve to move forward more militantly demanding their right to employment guarantee in rural India."

The Joint Platform's release concluded by congratulating the nation's rural workers "for participating in the strike and showing that their united actions will not go unheard or unnoticed," adding that "the united struggle will continue with greater strength and coordination in the days ahead."