Amaravati, December 31, 2025: Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee president Y.S. Sharmila has called for statewide protests in alliance with partners and civil groups to press for the immediate restoration of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
The demand follows the central government's introduction and passage of a new framework referred to as the VB-G RAM G Bill that replaces the original law, which Sharmila says dilutes rural workers' rights and shifts financial burdens.
Andhra Pradesh holds special significance as the birthplace of MGNREGA, launched in 2006 under then Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy and rolled out nationally from Anantapur district.
Over two decades, the scheme delivered nearly ₹1 lakh crore to the state, offering 100 days of guaranteed work annually to around 1 crore people and supporting drought relief, migration control, and rural livelihoods.
Critics argue the new model centralizes decisions, caps workdays, and reduces central funding share, undermining decentralized governance and employment security.
