Congress to stage district-wide protest demanding restoration of NREGA status quo: Ivan D’Souza

Congress to stage district-wide protest demanding restoration of NREGA status quo: Ivan D’Souza

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, January 17, 2026: The Congress will hold protests across the district demanding the restoration of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) in its original form, opposing the Centre’s move to modify the scheme without consulting the state government, said Legislative Council member and KPCC vice-president Ivan D’Souza.

Addressing a press conference here, D’Souza said it was inappropriate to alter the NREGA scheme and introduce it under a new name without holding consultations with the state government. He announced that a fast-unto-death protest would be held on January 21 in front of the Gandhi statue near Town Hall in the city.

He alleged that along with changing the name of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, a policy has been enforced requiring state governments to contribute 40 per cent of the funding. This decision, he said, was taken unilaterally without any discussion with the states. So far, around six states have opposed the requirement of a 40 per cent state contribution to the revised employment guarantee scheme.

Earlier, each gram panchayat used to receive annual funding ranging from ₹1 crore to ₹1.5 crore under the scheme. Through NREGA, employment was being provided for 36 crore person-days, benefiting 26 lakh Scheduled Caste families and 10 lakh Scheduled Tribe families, while assets worth ₹16 lakh were being created. Now, the Centre is attempting to deprive people of their right to employment, D’Souza alleged.

He further said that the Centre had earlier reduced allocations for the scheme in the Budget, and is now attempting to overhaul it completely, placing an additional burden on the poor. He added that the state government would convene a special session to discuss the issue.

D’Souza announced that the Congress would undertake a padayatra from Sullia to Mulki from February 9 to 12, demanding that NREGA be implemented in its original form and opposing the Centre’s decision.

Terming the move an attempt to weaken and eventually dismantle the NREGA scheme, D’Souza said it amounted to snatching away the livelihoods and food security of the poor.

Responding to BJP leaders’ allegations that the Congress was opposing the move merely because the scheme no longer carried Mahatma Gandhi’s name, D’Souza clarified that the Congress was objecting to the change in the nature of the scheme and the reduction in funding. He reiterated that the Congress strongly opposed the unilateral decision to mandate a 40 per cent state contribution.

On the occasion, compensation orders amounting to ₹4.44 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund were distributed to Narayana Kulashekara, Nishchal Mangaluru, Abdul Khader, Ibrahim Sajipanadu, Usman Moodbidri, Aboobacker Abdul Razak Kadroli, Lawrence Lobo and Ahmed Bava Addoor, who are suffering from illness.

Those present at the press conference included State Cashew Development Corporation Chairperson Mamata Gatti, former Mangaluru Mayor Shashidhar Hegde, Ashraf K, former corporator Nagendra, Appi, Bhaskar, and Congress office-bearers Satish Pengal, James, Vidya and others.