Congress leaders oppose changes to MGNREGA

Congress Working Committee member Gidugu Rudra Raju criticized the BJP government's changes to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), alleging they undermine workers' rights and livelihoods. He argued that the new framework, Viksit Bharat—Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G), restricts employment to designated panchayats, eliminates fixed wage rates, and reduces state funding for wages. Rudra Raju was joined by other leaders from the CPI(M) and Congress who expressed concern over rising unemployment and rural migration as a result of these changes.