Patiala, July 4, 2026:- *Pind Bachao, Punjab Bachao*, an organization actively campaigning on key public issues in Punjab, organized a large seminar on **“Labour and Social Security in the Context of MGNREGA”** at Prabhat Parwana Bhawan in Patiala. The event witnessed participation from representatives of various political parties, social organizations, labour unions, intellectuals, and a large number of MGNREGA workers.
Among the prominent speakers were Congress MP Dr. Amar Singh, senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema, Akali Dal Waris Punjab De leader Manpreet Singh Iyali, senior CPI leader Comrade Hardev Arshi, former MLA Tarsem Jodhan, senior journalist Hamir Singh, Dr. Pyara Lal Garg, Dr. Khushhal Singh, Abdul Shakoor (Malerkotla), Jagdish Ram (Ropar), Manpreet Kaur Rajpura, Democratic MGNREGA Front state president Raj Kumar, Harpal Kaur Tibbi and several other leaders.
Speakers from different political and ideological backgrounds unanimously stated that the recent changes to the MGNREGA Act were not merely an attack on workers but also a serious blow to India's federal structure, the Panchayati Raj system, and the autonomy of villages. They stressed the need for a broad-based people's movement, similar to the farmers' agitation, to restore MGNREGA in its original form.
Senior journalist Hamir Singh said MGNREGA was more than just an employment scheme, as it empowered Gram Sabhas and Panchayats to prepare village development plans. He alleged that under the new arrangements these powers had shifted to the Centre, weakening local democracy. He also noted that the scheme had provided rural women with economic independence and dignity, which was now under threat.
Akali Dal Waris Punjab De leader Manpreet Singh Iyali said MGNREGA had enabled lakhs of women in Punjab to become financially self-reliant. He alleged that the Central Government had treated the scheme as a financial burden and altered its basic structure. He claimed that while the Centre earlier bore the full administrative cost, the new 60:40 funding formula had shifted a significant financial burden onto the states, which could eventually weaken the scheme. He urged all opposition parties to unite for the protection of workers' rights.
Senior CPI leader Comrade Hardev Arshi described MGNREGA as the world's largest employment guarantee programme and said Left parties had played a key role in its creation. He accused the Centre of amending welfare laws in favour of corporate interests. He pointed out that MGNREGA workers in Punjab received an average of only 38 days of employment annually compared to the national average of 50 days and 66 days in Kerala. He argued that corruption should be tackled instead of dismantling the entire scheme.
Former MLA Tarsem Jodhan said the struggle to save MGNREGA was not confined to labourers but also concerned small traders, shopkeepers, and the people of Punjab as a whole. Questioning the absence of the Aam Aadmi Party from the seminar, he said all political forces should unite to defend people's rights. He added that Punjab could only be saved through the collective efforts of its people.
Senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema said laws guaranteeing employment, education, and food security formed the foundation of citizens' constitutional rights. He argued that after the implementation of GST, states had lost significant financial autonomy and the Centre now wanted to reduce them to implementing agencies. He said any major changes to MGNREGA should have been preceded by consultations with all stakeholders and warned that the present framework could eventually bring the scheme to a halt in Punjab.
Pind Bachao, Punjab Bachao leader Manpreet Kaur Rajpura alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party had earlier campaigned in support of MGNREGA but later implemented the very changes it had opposed. She said transferring village planning powers to the Centre would undermine grassroots self-governance.
Democratic MGNREGA Front leader Harpal Kaur Tibbi said that just as awareness about the MGNREGA Act was growing in Punjab, its structure had been altered. She demanded that the new provisions be withdrawn and the original Act restored.
Congress MP Dr. Amar Singh said MGNREGA was personally significant to him because his family had a background in manual labour. He recalled that the landmark legislation had been enacted during the UPA government with strong support from Left parties. He assured participants that if Congress returned to power at the Centre, the original MGNREGA framework would be restored. He also said that the United Nations had appreciated the MGNREGA model and recommended similar legislation for other Asian countries.
Dr. Pyara Lal Garg observed that replacing a legal guarantee with a scheme diluted its core spirit. He noted that Punjab had around 2.1 million job cards, of which nearly 1.2 million were active, yet only a small number of workers received the guaranteed 100 days of employment. He suggested that the programme should have been extended to urban areas as well.
Democratic MGNREGA Front state president Raj Kumar alleged that the MGNREGA Act had effectively been "killed." He said responsibility lay not only with those who failed to spread awareness about the law but also with those who did not wage a strong political struggle to protect it.
At the conclusion of the seminar, all speakers jointly appealed for a united people's movement above political differences to safeguard MGNREGA, protect workers' rights, preserve the powers of Panchayats, and strengthen India's federal structure. Karnail Singh Jakhepal, Darshan Singh Dhanetha, Gurmeet Singh Thuhi, Kulwinder Kaur Ramgarh, Phaljit Singh Sangrur, Amarjit Singh Chandigarh and Krishan Lubana also addressed the gathering.