Arunachal Congress to intensify protest against renaming of MGNREGA, announces Assembly siege from Feb 7 to 15

The Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) has decided to intensify its agitation against the Centre’s decision to rename the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) as the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act, 2025.

Addressing the media at the Namsai District Congress Committee office on Saturday, APCC president Bosiram Siram announced that Congress workers will lay siege to the Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly from February 7 to 15, in line with directives issued by the All India Congress Committee (AICC).

Siram said the APCC has been protesting the move ever since the new Act came into force, organising strikes and dharnas in the state capital Itanagar. To take the agitation to the grassroots, the party has launched a statewide outreach campaign titled “MGNREGA Bachao Sangram” under his leadership.

The campaign, Siram said, is aimed at creating awareness among Congress workers and the general public about what he termed the “lacunae and adverse impacts” of the newly crafted VB-G RAM G Act. He maintained that the changes weaken the original spirit and provisions of MGNREGA, which was enacted by the UPA government under the leadership of then Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to guarantee the constitutional Right to Work.

Highlighting the achievements of MGNREGA, Siram said the scheme has generated over 180 crore days of employment, created nearly 10 crore rural assets such as village tanks and roads, and strengthened the Panchayati Raj system by empowering gram panchayats to decide village-level projects. He added that during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, MGNREGA acted as a crucial lifeline for the rural economy.

The APCC president alleged that instead of strengthening MGNREGA, the Centre has deliberately diluted several of its provisions for political reasons, which would severely impact rural populations dependent on the scheme.

Advocate A K Techi, vice president of the APCC; Chua Taye, general secretary; Gollo Nipo, secretary; and Minj Jerimoi Kring, APCC East Siang in-charge, were also present at the meeting.