DMK’s Statewide Agitation Over Pending MGNREGA Dues

The DMK, led by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, is organizing a statewide protest to demand the immediate release of Rs 4,034 crore in pending MGNREGA wages.

Despite multiple representations to the Union government, including letters and meetings in Parliament, the party claims their demands have been ignored.

Stalin has called on rural workers to join the protest, criticizing the Centre for exploiting labor and neglecting the MGNREGA scheme. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) guarantees 100 days of paid work for rural households, but funding cuts and delayed payments have created significant distress.

The broader INDIA alliance, including Congress leaders like Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, has raised concerns about the weakening of the scheme in Parliament.

The stagnant budget allocation for MGNREGA has led to concerns over the government’s commitment to rural welfare. DMK’s agitation, scheduled for March 29, aims to intensify pressure on the BJP-led central government to address the overdue payments and secure the future of MGNREGA workers.