Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and other leaders participate in the 45-day ‘MGNREGA Bachao Sangram’ protest against the new rural jobs legislation passed by the Congress at the Palace Grounds in Bengaluru on January 13, 2026. Photo credit: Sudhakara Jain
The Congress is set to launch the Kaam Maango Abhiyan (Demand for Work) campaign later this month to mobilize workers under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). Under the initiative, party functionaries will help at least 10 workers in each gram panchayat who are in need of employment to formally generate job demand.
The move is part of a larger agitation program called “MGNREGA Bachao Sangram” (Movement to Save MGNREGA), which the Congress describes as a nationwide struggle to restore “constitutional rights to work, wages and responsibility”.
The Viksit Bharat-Garantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission-Gramin Act 2025 is set to start in a week. Once notified, state governments will have up to six months to notify the regime. There will be overlap between the two laws. In states where the scheme is not notified, MGNREGA will continue.
Congress general secretary (communication) Jairam Ramesh said the campaign aims to reach 2.5 lakh gram panchayats and lakhs of people across the country. “The government has bulldozed the MGNREGA scheme, which is a lifeline for millions of people in India. This nationwide fight is to restore constitutional rights to work, wages and accountability,” he said in a post on X, urging people to join the campaign.
Indian National Congress MGNREGA Bachao Sangram reaches 2.5 lakh gram panchayats and millions of people across the country.
The Modi government dismantled MGNREGA, which was a lifeline for millions of people in India. Our nationwide struggle is against…
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) January 13, 2026
The party has also launched a website — www.mgnregabachao.in — where people can join the movement and sign a petition addressed to President Droupadi Murma. The petition states: “We are strongly protesting the recent changes to MGNREGA which weaken its core promise of guaranteed employment and rural empowerment. MGNREGA is a constitutional right to work for millions of families and must not be diluted. Our demands: restore job guarantee; fix minimum wage at ₹ 400 per day; strengthen Panchayati Raj Institutions. We call for your immediate intervention to protect the spirit and immediate intent of MREGA.”
Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal detailed the campaign in a letter to all party office-bearers on Monday (January 12, 2026). He said the letters signed by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharg and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi would be shared soon. “All those responsible are requested to translate this letter into their local language and ensure mass printing. These letters are to be delivered to Gram Panchayat Pradhans, MGNREGA members, Rozgar Sahayaks, MGNREGA workers and former Pradhans,” Mr. Venugopal wrote.
The Congress has also set up a coordination committee to oversee and monitor the ‘MGNREGA Bachao Sangram’ which includes Ajay Maken as convener and leaders Jairam Ramesh, Sandeep Dikshit and Priyank Kharge.
Published – 13 Jan 2026 21:02 IST
