Instead of Gram Sabhas, Punjab villages witness protests against move to replace MGNREGA

“Punjab is already reeling under a financial crunch. If the state cannot even contribute its share, how will employment be generated for workers?”

Sewewala said labour unions had chosen protests instead of organising Gram Sabhas, making it clear that the move to seek local endorsement for scrapping MGNREGA would be resisted.

Copies of the Central government’s letter asking panchayats to pass resolutions through Gram Sabhas were burnt in hundreds of villages across Punjab during the protests on Friday. Labour leaders announced that the agitation would continue through statewide demonstrations outside the offices of deputy commissioners on January 6 and 7.

Calling the Centre’s move “rubbing salt into the wounds of workers,” the labour front said it would strongly oppose any attempt to dismantle MGNREGA. It also pointed out that the Punjab government has already refused to organise such Gram Sabhas, aligning with the labour unions’ stand.

Union leaders Devi Kumari Sarhali Kalan, Tarsem Peter, Lachhman Singh Sewewala, Gobind Chhajli, Gurmesh Singh, Kulwant Singh Selwara, Mukesh Malaud and Darshan Nahar led protests at various locations across Punjab.

Speaking on the issue, Tarsem Peter from the Noormahal area of Nawanshahr in Punjab said, “The Narendra Modi-led Central government was, on one hand, snatching employment from workers by abolishing MGNREGA and introducing VB-G-RAM-G, and on the other hand, attempting to create hostility in villages by pressuring panchayats to pass resolutions in favour of these anti-labour measures.”

The Joint Front further accused the Centre of first amending labour laws with anti-worker provisions to facilitate corporate exploitation, and now attempting to scrap MGNREGA “in line with the prescriptions of institutions” such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, which advocate cuts in welfare spending. They also alleged that the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government was pursuing privatisation by selling public sector assets and replacing permanent jobs with contract-based and outsourced recruitments.

Emergency SKM meeting

Meanwhile, an emergency meeting of SKM Punjab was held at Mullanpur Dakha on Thursday under the chairmanship of Baldev Singh Nihalgarh, Mukesh Chandra Sharma and Binder Singh Golewala. The meeting discussed strengthening “joint struggles” of farmers, workers, employees, students, women and other sections of society against privatisation.

The SKM unanimously decided that on January 16, 2026, all organisations would jointly hold protests outside deputy commissioner offices at all district headquarters across Punjab from 12 noon to 3 pm. Leaders said that while the Electricity Amendment Bill affects all sections of society, the four labour codes and the proposed replacement of MGNREGA constituted a direct attack on workers. They also opposed the Seed Bill 2025 and free trade agreements, calling them threats to agriculture.

SKM also strongly objected to directives issued by the Union Ministries of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj asking panchayats to convene Gram Sabhas, pass resolutions in favour of the new law replacing MGNREGA and upload photos and videos on the ‘Panchayat Nirnay’ app.

The Morcha further urged the Punjab government to pass resolutions against the Electricity Amendment Bill 2025 and the Seed Bill 2025 during the special Assembly session scheduled for December 30, which has been convened to oppose the new law replacing MGNREGA.