Guwahati, Jan 9: The Congress party will begin its ‘Save MGNREGA Movement’ in Assam from Saturday as part of a nationwide protest against the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission Gramin Act (VB-G RAM G), which has replaced the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

AICC general secretary in charge of Assam, Manoj Chauhan, said on Thursday that the agitation would continue until the new Act is withdrawn. He alleged that the VB-G RAM G Act has removed the guarantee of employment provided under MGNREGA and affects the rights of rural workers. He also accused the Centre of centralising decision-making on work allocation in panchayats and fixing wages without adequate consultation.

According to Chauhan, the Assam phase of the movement will begin on January 10 with press conferences at district headquarters, to be addressed by district Congress presidents and Assam Pradesh Congress Committee observers. A statewide day-long dharna is scheduled for January 11.

From January 12 to January 29, protest meetings will be held in all gram panchayats across the state, involving Congress workers and MGNREGA labourers. The agitation will conclude with a day-long dharna on January 30, observed as Martyrs’ Day, marking the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

Chauhan said MGNREGA had supported rural livelihoods for nearly two decades and claimed that the new scheme would place additional financial pressure on state governments. He added that the party would continue its protest until MGNREGA is restored.