By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 18: The Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) on Thursday opposed the proposed changes to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), stating that the move would adversely affect rural livelihoods and weaken grassroots institutions.
Addressing a press briefing, MPCC Secretary Manuel Badwar said the proposed changes amounted to “an attack on the soul of MGNREGA” and would directly impact poor and rural households. He stated that MGNREGA guarantees 100 days of employment as a legal right and provides livelihood security to rural families.
Badwar said that under the proposed framework, decision-making powers would shift from local institutions to the Centre, allowing the government to decide fund allocation, work approval, and notifications.
“Power is being taken away from the people and handed over to the government, weakening village-level administration and the dignity of labour,” Badwar said.
He also raised concerns over budgetary allocations, stating that while the government claims to have increased workdays from 100 to 125, reduced budget provisions would result in fewer actual days of employment. He warned that women workers in rural areas would be among the worst affected due to reduced access to work and delayed wages.
The MPCC leader further cautioned that a decline in rural employment would lead to migration from villages to urban centres. He said that Meghalaya lacks the capacity to absorb large-scale migration, particularly in cities like Shillong.
Badwar said reduced livelihood opportunities would have a cascading effect on families, including children being forced out of school to supplement household incomes. He pointed out that approximately 15 lakh people in Meghalaya are covered under MGNREGA and would be affected by the proposed changes
He also warned of the rise of exploitative labour practices and increased indebtedness among rural households. According to him, families facing financial distress may be pushed into debt traps, increasing economic vulnerability in rural areas.
Stating that the issue went beyond party politics, Badwar called upon regional and national political parties to collectively oppose the proposed changes, saying the matter concerned the livelihoods of millions of people dependent on MGNREGA.
