Mangaluru: The Dakshina Kannada District Congress has launched a four-day ‘NREGA Bachao Sangram Padayatra’ from Sullia to Mulki, alleging that the Centre is attempting to amend and dilute the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
Hundreds of party workers and leaders participated in the march that began on Monday, describing it as part of a larger statewide agitation seeking protection of the rural employment scheme.
Addressing participants, senior Congress leaders alleged that the Centre is trying to alter the name and implementation framework of the scheme, which they said was introduced during the UPA government as a welfare measure for the rural poor.
“There is an attempt to weaken the original purpose of the employment guarantee scheme, which has benefited lakhs of rural families,” a leader said, adding that protests have been organised across Karnataka demanding continuation of full funding and effective implementation.
V.R. Sudarshan accused the Centre of gradually scaling down the scheme by reducing grants and shifting the financial burden onto state governments. “It is regrettable that our state MPs have not raised their voice against this,” he said.
On the second day of the padayatra, District Congress Legal Unit president Manoraj Rajeev said the Centre had failed to fulfil its promise of generating two crore jobs annually. “In such a situation, weakening the rural employment guarantee scheme is not justified,” he said.
KPCC general secretary R. Padmaraja Poojary, MLA Ashok rai, MLC Ivan D’Souza, former MLA J.R. Lobo, Sulya Block Congress president P.C. Jayaram and several other leaders took part in the march.
Congress leaders said the padayatra should mark the beginning of a broader movement to safeguard MGNREGA and ensure continued employment support for rural workers.