Centre’s move to rename MGNREGS draws protest in Erode

Members of the All Types of Differently Abled Persons and Caregivers Rights Association staged a copy-burning protest outside the Collectorate here on Wednesday (July 1, 2026), opposing the Union government’s move to rename the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) as the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-GRAM G).

Wearing black badges, the protesters alleged that the proposed legislation would dilute the legal guarantee of employment under MGNREGS and adversely affect persons with disabilities by undermining their right to livelihood guaranteed under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.

They further alleged that the proposed funding pattern, under which the Union government would bear 60% of the scheme’s cost and the remaining 40% by the State government, would increase the financial burden on States and affect the implementation of the employment guarantee programme. They also claimed that inadequate budgetary allocations would make the proposed 125 days of employment unviable.

Demanding that the proposed legislation be withdrawn, the protesters urged the Union government to continue implementing MGNREGS in its present form. Police personnel prevented the protesters from burning copies of the Act. When some of them attempted to stage a road blockade, they were removed from the spot.