Agartala, Jan 21: The Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee has announced a series of state-level protest programmes demanding the restoration of the MGNREGA scheme, alleging that recent changes introduced by the Centre undermine rural employment.
Addressing the media after a meeting at the Congress Bhavan on Tuesday, Pradesh Congress president Ashish Kumar Saha said the nationwide 45-day campaign launched by the Indian National Congress is now being intensified in Tripura through the “MGNREGA Bachao Sangram” committee.
According to Saha, the protest plan includes door-to-door leaflet distribution from January 26 and the adoption of resolutions along with mass signature campaigns across every panchayat and municipal ward.
Saha said block-level sit-in demonstrations will be held on January 30, observed as the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. He added that mass deputations will be submitted to Sub-Divisional Magistrates and District Magistrates on February 6.
The final phase of the agitation will include a gherao of Lok Bhavan on any day before February 15, during which a memorandum will be submitted to the Governor.
Highlighting the significance of MGNREGA, Saha said the scheme earlier ensured employment for around 60 percent women workers and provided work opportunities in all panchayats. He claimed that the newly introduced system fails to guarantee such coverage, thereby weakening the economic condition of rural households.
Saha stated that the Congress will continue its movement until MGNREGA is reinstated in its original form.
