Overview
The CITU district committee staged a protest at Maddilapalem Junction in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday, 2026. The rally called for a stronger MGNREGS and the withdrawal of the proposed VB‑GRAM G framework.
Key Developments
- Protestors demanded that the guaranteed workdays under MGNREGS be raised from 100 to 200 days per year.
- They asked for the minimum daily wage to be increased to ₹600.
- The proposed VB‑GRAM G scheme was criticised for containing provisions that could hurt rural workers.
- Funding shift: States would bear 40% of the programme cost while the Centre would cover the remaining 60%, which protesters say will weaken implementation.
- Demand for an employment‑guarantee programme to be extended to urban areas.
- Warning of nationwide agitations by farmers and agricultural‑worker organisations if the legislation is not withdrawn.
Important Facts
- R.K.S.V. Kumar, CITU district general secretary, led the address.
- The protest included a rally from Kalabharati Junction to Maddilapalem Junction, forming a human chain.
- Criticism was also directed at the recent labour codes, which the Union government replaced 29 labour laws with four codes, allegedly diluting worker safeguards.
Exam Relevance
This event touches upon several GS topics. Understanding MGNREGS helps answer questions on rural development, poverty reduction, and welfare schemes. The debate over VB‑GRAM G illustrates the policy‑making process, centre‑state fiscal relations, and the role of trade unions in influencing legislation. The criticism of the labour codes is relevant for questions on labour reforms and industrial relations.
Way Forward
- Stakeholders should engage in dialogue to address the shortcomings of MGNREGS without dismantling the scheme.
- Any revision of the employment guarantee must ensure adequate funding, with a clear cost‑sharing formula that does not overburden states.
- Wage rates should be periodically revised to reflect inflation and cost of living.
- Urban employment‑guarantee pilots could be explored to complement rural programmes.
- Future labour reforms must balance simplification with protection of workers’ rights, keeping the concerns raised by trade unions in mind.