Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka, MP, Supongmeren Jamir, MP and other Congress leaders at the launching programme of protest against repealing of MGNREGA at Congress Bhavan, Kohima on January 8. (Morung Photo)
• Rs 103 crore funds pending for 9 months
• Rs 30 lakh in wages unpaid for a year
• At Rs 241 a day, Nagaland has lowest wage
Morung Express News
Kohima | January 8
Congress MP Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka raised serious concerns over the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in Nagaland.
Speaking at launching programme of protest against repealing of MGNREGA at Congress Bhavan, Kohima on January 8, Ulaka, who is also the Chairperson of Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj reported that material costs worth approximately Rs 103 crore under the scheme have been pending for the last nine months in the state. Furthermore, wage payments amounting to nearly Rs 30 lakh have not been cleared for over a year.
Targeting the state’s ruling alliance, Ulaka said, “This is a double-engine government of NDPP and BJP. What is our Chief Minister doing?”
The MP further highlighted that Nagaland has one of the lowest MGNREGA wage rates in the country at Rs 241 per day. This rate has not been revised for the last 11 years, despite inflation and the economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis, he added.
Ulaka alleged that the state government has been underfunding the project and attempted to curb the scheme by capping the demand. He speculated, “if they allocate 80,000 crore as budget, 27% of the money goes into paying clearing pending liabilities.”
Launches 45-day nationwide protest
The Congress leader also criticised the BJP-led central government over the passage of the VB-G RAM G Act, alleging it was enacted without sufficient parliamentary discussion.
“There was no mention about it, no discussion about it... when we went to Parliament, this Bill was introduced,” Ulaka stated. Despite the opposition from MPs, “the other day they had a discussion on the Bill and they passed the Bill, bulldozed the Bill in Parliament,” he stated.
Ulaka questioned the urgency behind the legislation and accused the Modi-led government of systematically weakening the act over the past 11 years ‘trying to kill the MGNREGA scheme.’
It was the MGNREGA scheme, which has prevented mass distress migration, and preserving the dignity and livelihood of lakh of poor workers, saving both the government and the poor during the pandemic, helping people earn wages and feed their families, he asserted.
Citing data, Ulaka stated that since its launch, about 180 crore person-days of work have been generated, and reports including those of the CAG have termed MGNREGA as one of the most effective schemes in the country. However, the Centre has been deliberately trying to kill the scheme by delaying wages and material costs, he reiterated.
Calling MGNREGA a ‘right-based scheme’ linked to Article 21 of right to livelihood, Ulaka explained that under the original Act, any rural resident demanding work was legally entitled to it, failing which the government had to pay unemployment allowance. He cautioned that the new VB-G RAM G Act dismantles this legal guarantee by converting it into a centrally sponsored scheme with shared funding, making financially weak states vulnerable and allowing the Centre to decide which states, districts, blocks or villages receive work.
He also criticised provisions that restrict work during certain months and allow the Centre to arbitrarily decide wage rates adding, “it is on the wills and fancy of the government to decide on the wage rate.”
“This is an attack on our gram panchayats, an attack on the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments, and an attack on rural livelihoods,” Ulaka said, adding that the renaming of the scheme and dilution of Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of Gram Swaraj was done “unceremoniously and undemocratically.”
Announcing the protest programme, Ulaka said the Congress Working Committee, in its meeting on December 27, 2025, unanimously decided to launch a 45-day nationwide agitation demanding repeal of the Act.
Stating that MGNREGA has been the lifeline of the rural economy and lifeline of the poor, he appealed to civil society organisations, youth groups and village leaders to join the movement so that the government will be forced to withdraw the Act.
Vows to restore MGNREGA
In his presidential address, Supongmeren Jamir, MP & President of Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC), termed the day as “very important” for protecting the legacy and rights created by the Congress for the poor.
Jamir said that Congress MPs had strongly opposed the amendments in Parliament, but that the government has “forcefully enacted” the new Act. He asserted that Congress will continue to fight until the original MGNREGA framework is restored. Referring to recent statements by BJP leaders, Jamir pointed out the contradictions in their claims, noting that while they acknowledged the role of MGNREGA in reducing poverty, they also simultaneously accused it of misuse.
Citing census and poverty data, Jamir said that with nearly 68.8% of population living in rural areas, MGNREGA has played a key role in reducing poverty levels significantly. He accused the BJP of confusing and misleading the people by misrepresenting the changes and facts.
“Congress always stands for the poor people and for its upliftment, and our stand is very clear. Congress will stand for the benefit of the people,” Jamir asserted.
The programme was chaired by Khriedi Theunuo, Working President NPCC while C Apok Jamir, Working President NPCC pronounced the vote of thanks.
