MGNREGA Row: Trade unions in Ludhiana accuse Centre of undermining rights of workers

MGNREGA Row: Trade Unions in Ludhiana Accuse Centre of Undermining Rights of Workers

In a scathing critique of the Centre's labour policies, trade unions in Ludhiana on Monday staged a protest outside the office of the assistant labour commissioner, condemning the proposed replacement of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) with the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-RAM G) Bill 2025. The unions, under the banner of the United Front of Trade Unions, Ludhiana, submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister, demanding the immediate reinstatement of MGNREGA and opposing the Centre's move to undermine the rights of rural workers.

The protest, which took place on Gill Road in Ludhiana, was part of a broader movement that has been organized across multiple Punjab districts, including Bathinda, Moga, Muktsar, Faridkot, and Sangrur. The trade unions, including AITUC, INTUC, CITU, and CTU Punjab, claimed that the replacement of MGNREGA with VB-RAM G would be a "direct attack on the livelihood of rural labourers" who depend on the scheme for employment. Union leaders, including MS Bhatia, Gurjeet Singh Jagpal, Jagdish Chand, Sukhvinder Singh Lote, and others, alleged that the new bill is "corporate friendly" and undermines workers' rights and security.

"We have secured 44 key labour laws over the past 150 years, but the Modi government has recently repealed 29 of them, consolidating the rest into four labour codes that fail to protect workers' interests," said union leader MS Bhatia. "This is a clear attempt by the Centre to undermine the rights of rural workers and push an ideological agenda". The unions are particularly concerned about the removal of Mahatma Gandhi's name from the scheme, which they view as part of the BJP-RSS's broader agenda to erode the values of the Indian freedom struggle.

Rural and farm workers already face chronic unemployment due to privatization and post-Green Revolution policies, making MGNREGA's dilution particularly harmful. "We are already fighting against the Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2025, Seeds Bill 2025, and the SHANTI Bill 2025, which benefit corporate interests rather than common people," said union leader Gurjeet Singh Jagpal. The unions are concerned that these legislations will further exacerbate the plight of rural workers.

The MGNREGA scheme, enacted in 2005, was designed to ensure livelihood security for rural poor by guaranteeing employment. However, the Modi government has allegedly been dismantling MGNREGA for an extended period by continuously reducing budget allocations and restricting funds to states. The new VB-RAM G Bill represents a formal legislative replacement that removes the right to demand employment, a fundamental feature of the original MGNREGA. Under the new law, the central government has shifted its financial responsibility onto states.

The government's move to consolidate 44 labour laws into four labour codes has also raised apprehensions among workers' organizations. "The Draft National Labour and Employment Policy (Shram Shakti Niti) 2025 has raised concerns among workers' organizations as an anti-worker initiative departing from constitutional guarantees," said union leader Sukhvinder Singh Lote.

The replacement of MGNREGA with VB-RAM G would eliminate assured employment guarantees in rural areas, leaving workers without a safety net. "Rising unemployment and inflation make the scheme even more crucial for survival, and its dilution would severely impact rural labourers' livelihoods," said union leader Jagdish Chand. The implications of this move are far-reaching and would have a devastating impact on the lives of rural workers.

As the government pushes ahead with its labour policies, it is clear that the Centre is prioritizing the interests of corporate India over those of rural workers. The trade unions' protest in Ludhiana is a stark reminder of the need for workers' rights to be protected and cherished. "We will not back down in our fight for workers' rights," said union leader MS Bhatia. "We will continue to mobilize against these anti-worker policies and fight for the rights of rural workers."