Hans News Service
Anantapur
CPI announced a three-day padayatra from Anantapur to Bandlapalli from April 10 to 12, demanding the continuation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
Addressing a press conference at the CPI district office, party leaders said that the march will begin at Samatha Gram in Anantapur and culminate in a public meeting at Bandlapalli on April 12. Several prominent leaders, including CPI national secretary Ramakrishna, Congress state president Y.S. Sharmila, and leaders from various Left parties and farmer organizations, are expected to participate in the march and the concluding sabha.
CPI leaders alleged that the Union government has weakened the rural employment guarantee framework by introducing alternative schemes that lack legal safeguards. They expressed concern that changes in funding patterns and implementation authority could adversely
impact rural labourers and small farmers.
The party said that the employment guarantee programme had significantly reduced rural distress and migration while improving livelihoods. It warned that any dilution of the scheme could lead to loss of employment rights and increased hardship in rural areas.
A large public meeting will be held at Bandlapalli, the village associated with the early implementation of the scheme, with participation from national and state-level leaders.
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Party to conduct padayatra from Anantapur to Bandlapalli (April 10-12) to demand MGNREGA protections, with national secretary Ramakrishna and PCC chief Sharmila expected to join
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Accuses Union govt of weakening the employment guarantee framework through alternative schemes that strip legal safeguards and shift funding patterns, risking rural labour livelihoods
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Concluding public meeting will be held at Bandlapalli, the village tied to the programme's early implementation