Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], January 29 : Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) will observe a two-hour fast at the Ridge in Shimla on Friday to protest against what it termed the "demolition of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act" (MGNREGA), party leaders said on Thursday.
The fast will be held under the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at the Ridge. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, AICC in-charge Rajni Patil, cabinet ministers, Congress MLAs, and MGNREGA workers will participate in it, the party said.
Speaking with ANI in Shimla, Himachal Congress president Vinay Kumar said the protest is part of a larger statewide movement launched by the Congress to "save MGNREGA" and highlight alleged injustice to rural labourers by the Centre.
"The Congress party has launched a 'Save MGNREGA' movement across Himachal Pradesh. Our workers at the district and block levels are reaching the grassroots to make people aware of how the central government has weakened this historic scheme meant for the poorest sections," Vinay Kumar told ANI.
The Parliament passed the Viksit Bharat- G RAM G Bill 2025 in the winter session. Opposition parties strongly opposed the bill, saying that the government had diluted the provisions of MGNREGA, which was passed by the UPA government.
The Congress is organizing nation-wide protests against the government's move.
Vinay Kumar said the organisational revamp of the party in Himachal Pradesh is progressing rapidly following a recent meeting convened by AICC General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal, which was attended by state in-charges and Pradesh Congress Committee presidents from across the country.
"District presidents have already been finalised, while block presidents will be appointed next, followed by booth-level and village-level committees. Within one month, the entire organisational structure will be completed so that the party is fully prepared for the upcoming Panchayati Raj elections," he added.
Vinay Kumar further said that Rajni Patil will hold one-to-one meetings with leaders of all frontal organisations after the fast, following which key decisions will be taken to strengthen the party in the state.
On MGNREGA, he alleged that while the Centre claims to have increased the guaranteed workdays, the scheme's safeguards have been weakened.
"Earlier, there was a guarantee of 100 days of work and unemployment allowance if work was not provided. That protection has been eroded. Funding patterns have also been changed, putting an unfair burden on hill states like Himachal Pradesh," he said.
He added that changes in funding ratios and reduced central support have effectively "strangled" the scheme and will result in job losses and renewed rural worker migration.
Commenting on the upcoming Union Budget, Vinay Kumar said people of Himachal Pradesh, especially farmers and horticulturists, are hopeful that the Centre will announce concrete measures in their favour.
"The budget session has begun, and farmers, orchardists and the people of the state are expecting something substantial from the Centre. We will closely watch what the Union Budget delivers," he added.