Archive · 2 Feb 2026
Congress Criticizes New Rural Employment Law
The Congress party and the Communist Party of India (CPI) are criticizing the new rural employment law that replaces the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
They say MGNREGA was a good law that helped many rural families, especially women, by providing jobs and creating community assets.
The new law, called VB-G RAM G, is criticized for taking away some of the rights and protections that workers had under MGNREGA.
The Congress says the new law will make it harder for states to provide jobs and will weaken the bargaining power of rural workers.
The CPI has called for a nationwide strike on February 12 to protest against the government's policies, which they say are against the interests of workers and farmers.
Congress and CPI criticize the new rural employment law (VB-G RAM G) that replaces MGNREGA, arguing it centralizes power and weakens workers' rights.
MGNREGA provided 180 crore work days to rural households, created 10 crore community assets, and empowered gram panchayats.
The new law increases the guaranteed work days from 100 to 125 days per rural household but shifts more financial responsibility to states.
Congress alleges that the new law will stop providing work for two months during peak agricultural activities, reducing workers' bargaining power.
CPI calls for a nationwide general strike on February 12 to protest against the government's anti-labor and anti-people policies.
- Who
- Congress, CPI, Modi Government
- What
- Criticism of the new rural employment law replacing MGNREGA
- When
- February 2, 2024 (20th anniversary of MGNREGA)
- Where
- India, with specific mention of Badnapalli village in Andhra Pradesh and Vijayawada
- Why
- Congress and CPI argue that the new law centralizes power, increases financial burden on states, and weakens workers' rights and bargaining power
- MGNREGA Launch Date
- February 2, 2006
- MGNREGA Work Days Provided
- 180 crore
- MGNREGA Community Assets Created
- 10 crore
- MGNREGA State Funding Share
- 10%
- VB-G RAM G Guaranteed Work Days
- 125 days per rural household
- VB-G RAM G State Funding Share
- 40%
- General Strike Date
- February 12
