Urban employment guarantee scheme, caste survey among 10 Cong poll guarantees unveiled by Kharge for workers, backward groups

A trade union leader himself, Kharge alleged that the Modi government weakened laws and policies designed to protect labourers and workers. “Minimum wages have remained stagnant, and MGNREGA workers often face delays in receiving their payments,” he said.

“The labour codes appear to prioritise the interests of industries and businesses over those of the workers. The BJP government should have engaged in discussions with labour unions, business groups, and relevant stakeholders before implementing the laws,” Kharge added.

Further targeting the prime minister, the Congress leader said, “Modi is not interested in schemes like MGNREGA. He earlier said it is ‘your scheme and I will not allow it to die but I will let it continue as your memorial.’ This is the kind of mentality he is having,” Kharge said on a day when PM Modi held a rally on the former’s home turf in Kalaburagi.

“The Congress will bring an employment guarantee act for urban areas, with a focus on building public infrastructure, making cities resilient to climate change, and bridging gaps in social services,” Kharge said.

Trying to woo the backward communities, Kharge said the gap between the rich and the poor has widened under the Modi regime. He also criticised the BJP for not conducting a caste census.

“The Congress guarantees a comprehensive social, economic, and caste census that will survey the population, the social and economic status, and the share in national wealth, and representation in institutions of governance of all castes and communities – to revolutionise India’s affirmative action policy,” the Congress president said.

The party has also proposed to remove the 50 per cent cap on reservations and make budgetary allocations for the welfare of SC, and ST communities in proportion to their share in the population.

“We stand by every promise that we have made. Our track record in states like Karnataka and Telangana speaks for itself,” Kharge said.

The Congress has so far made ‘five promises’ and ‘25 guarantees’. Ahead of the announcement for workers and backward communities, the Congress had announced ‘15 guarantees’ for the youth, workers, and women.