Anakapalli Tribals Want Restoration of MGNREGA; Oppose VB-G RAM G
The Adivasi leaders warned that such a shift would make it difficult for state governments to sustain the programme, leading to a decline in employment opportunities
Visakhapatnam: Residents of Kommari and Z. Bennavaram villages in Ravikamatham mandal of Anakapalli staged protests near the Cheemalapadu village secretariat, brandishing pickaxes and shovels as symbols of their struggle.
They demanded repeal of the central government’s Viksit Bharat - G (VB-G) RAM G Act” and continuation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
Other tribal labourers and workers joined forces with them to call for revocation of the new legislation, insisting that MGNREGA must continue to safeguard rural livelihoods.
Speaking on the occasion, K. Govinda Rao, assistant secretary of Vyavasaya Karmika Sangham, declared that workers are determined to protect MGNREGA. Alongside him, village elders S. Raju, Gemmili Raju, and Pothuraju accused the BJP government of attempting to dismantle the scheme by renaming it and stripping away its benefits.
They pointed out that facilities, such as two-shift work, summer allowances, and incentives, like drinking water, buttermilk, and medical kits, have been withdrawn under VB-G RAM G. Further, they said the centre has reduced its share of funding from 90 per cent to 60 per cent, while increasing the state’s burden from 10 per cent to 40 per cent.
The Adivasi leaders warned that such a shift would make it difficult for state governments to sustain the programme, leading to a decline in employment opportunities.
The protesters underlined that farmers, migrant labourers, the unemployed, and daily-wage workers rely heavily on MGNREGA, which contributes significantly to the rural economy. They urged the public to unite in defence of the scheme.
Their other demands include implementing the Employment Guarantee Scheme in Ajayapuram village and providing 150 days of work to those holding Recognition of Forest Rights (ROFR) land titles.
In Anakapalli district, residents of villages under Sarugudu panchayat in Nathavaram mandal, such as Pata Kotnabelli, P. Ponnavolu, and Cheemalapadu, highlighted the complete absence of mobile network coverage. They insisted that because of this, tribal residents in these areas must be exempted from the requirement of using the “Face App” for marking their attendance in works provided by the government.
On the day, 15 tribal families of Bennavaram village under Gannavaram zone complained that officials have failed to provide road access to their agricultural lands despite repeated appeals.