NEW DELHI: As it takes a determined step to agitate for MGNREGA with the successful farm laws stir as motivation, Congress views the agitation as a long-term sensitisation programme than the one which can radically change the status of the scheme disbanded by Modi govt. The reason is that the nature of the stakeholder in the rural job scheme is the poor working class in contrast to the big farmers involved in the campaign against farm laws.As MGNREGA workers are fighting for daily survival, it is conceded they cannot be mobilised for a long struggle over a future concern. This is in stark contrast to farm laws agitation which witnessed farmers from across the north gather for a prolonged dharna, which finally forced Centre to roll back three Acts. The marked difference in social clout of the two groups is what seems to complicate the struggle which otherwise, many feel, was a straight battle.
Interestingly, the other agitation, which forced Modi govt to backtrack in its early days in power, was against “weakening” of land acquisition law, led by Rahul Gandhi. But that too involved farmers who were concerned about easing of acquisition norms.In contrast, MGNREGA changes may actually put farmers against labourers, and the protest, because of the policy of pausing G RAM G Act for two months during the agricultural season. Thus, it is felt, the agitation for MGNREGA is more a long-term campaign, which would seek to sensitise the poor workers and prepare them for the time when “they feel the pinch” of the new G RAM G Act.The difference between past successful agitations and proposed MGNREGA campaign was discussed in Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting last week that considered the issue.Sources said CWC acknowledged the battle will be prolonged, as wage earners cannot be called away from work to join a struggle. Instead, political activists will have to visit work sites and villages to sensitise the groups that, according to Congress, will be hurt by the changes from the job guarantee scheme brought in the new law – like budget, pause during agriculture season, panchayat-level planning. This will also require coordination with voluntary organisations involved in the job guarantee scheme.
