SHILLONG: Meghalaya Congress leader Manuel Badwar, has launched a blistering verbal assault on the ruling BJP, accusing them of trying to “kill the soul” of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
Badwar warned that these changes represent nothing less than an “unforgivable attack” on social justice, the Constitution, and the very survival of Meghalaya’s poorest citizens.
According to Badwar, the strength of MGNREGA lay in its guarantee—a legal right to 100 days of work for the rural population. He argues that the new legislative direction strips this power away from the villagers and hands it directly to the government.
”The dignity of labour, the strength of the villages, and the administrative power of our rural communities is being erased,” Badwar stated. “The government in Delhi, which has no link or understanding of the grassroots level, will now decide which village gets what. It’s a dangerous trend toward bureaucratic shadows.”
The Congress leader painted a grim picture of the potential ripple effects for the 15 lakh people in Meghalaya currently under the MGNREGA umbrella. Despite government promises to increase work days to 125, Badwar dismissed this as “lip service,” predicting a reality of shrunken budgets and reduced pay.
The “Domino Effect” on Meghalaya Society:
Without guaranteed wages, women in the rural belt—the backbone of the local economy—will lose their right to work.
Families unable to survive in villages will flood into cities like Shillong, which Badwar warns does not have the capacity to absorb them.
Badwar warned that children will be pulled out of schools to work, fuelling a cycle of poverty.
With no government safety net, villagers may turn to predatory moneylenders. “They will become slaves on their own land,” he warned.
Badwar emphasized that this is not merely a partisan squabble, but a fight for the livelihood of millions. He issued a stirring call to action for Meghalaya’s regional parties to set aside differences and join the protest.
”This is not just about politics,” Badwar said. “This is about the survival of our society. We are 100% sure this will impact village life as we know it, and we must raise our voices before it is too late.”
