Overview
- At a Feb. 23 protest in Chikkaballapur, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah urged the Centre to abolish VB-G RAM G and re-implement MGNREGA.
- The Congress announced a nationwide 'Save MGNREGA' drive, pledging to continue the agitation until the 2005 employment guarantee is restored.
- Demands include reinstatement of MGNREGA, restoration of local self-governance for panchayats, and a uniform rural wage of ₹400 per day.
- Leaders say the new law centralizes decisions and shifts financing to a 60% Centre and 40% state share, increasing pressure on state budgets.
- Siddaramaiah cited 12.16 crore prior MGNREGA workers and claimed 16.12 crore job losses after the repeal, figures presented as his assertions; the Centre describes VB-G RAM G (2025) as an overhaul aligned with Viksit Bharat 2047.