The discontinuation of MGNREGA has adversely affected rural livelihoods and left Gram Panchayats without adequate work, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramiah said, claiming that nearly 16.12 crore people have lost their jobs after the Narendra Modi government scrapped the UPA-era rural employment scheme.
Addressing the “MGNREGA Bachao” protest in Chikkaballapur, the Karnataka Chief Minister said that the now-defunct scheme guaranteed 100 days of employment to rural labourers and supported the operations of Gram Panchayats.
Siddaramiah said that the discontinuation has not just left the Gram Panchayats without work, it has rendered crores in rural areas jobless. He claimed that 53 per cent of the nearly 16.12 crore, who have lost their jobs, are women and 28 per cent belong to the Scheduled Castes community.
Stressing that protecting MGNREGA is extremely essential to safeguard the employment rights of rural workers, Siddaramiah demanded the government reinstate the original framework of the scheme.
He also urged the Centre to fix a minimum wage of Rs 400 per day under the scheme, asserting that the Congress protest would continue until MGNREGA is fully restored and employment security for rural workers is ensured.
The Narendra Modi government last year scrapped MGNREGA and replaced it with the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act, 2025.
The government claimed that the VB-G RAM G is a comprehensive statutory overhaul of MGNREGA, aligning rural employment with the long-term vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, while strengthening accountability, infrastructure outcomes and income security.