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- Warning of nationwide agitations by farmers and agricultural‑worker organisations if the legislation is not withdrawn.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 relatio