Ranchi:The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has launched a statewide campaign in Jharkhand against the BJP-led central government’s decision to discontinue the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and replace it with the VBG Gram scheme. The campaign began on Mahatma Gandhi’s Martyrdom Day, following a call by the CPI(M) Jharkhand State Committee.
The campaign was formally launched from the party’s state office in Ranchi. A meeting was held with district secretaries and senior party leaders from Ranchi, Gumla, Lohardaga, Khunti and Gumla districts of the South Chotanagpur division, during which party workers pledged to intensify the movement. Similar meetings are being organised across the North Chotanagpur, Kolhan, Palamu and Santhal Pargana divisions.
As part of the campaign, CPI(M) workers will visit villages across all districts of the state to interact with MGNREGA job card holders. The party aims to highlight the achievements of the employment guarantee scheme and draw attention to what it describes as the central government’s attack on the livelihoods of rural and poor households. The campaign also seeks to mobilise public opinion for the withdrawal of the VBG Gram scheme and the restoration of MGNREGA.
The agitation is scheduled to reach its peak on February 12, when CPI(M) will extend support to the nationwide strike called by the Joint Trade Union Platform demanding the repeal of the four labour codes. In solidarity with the strike, a two-hour road blockade programme will be organised across Jharkhand.
Addressing the gathering at the launch of the campaign, CPI(M) state secretary Prakash Viplav alleged that the present central government is carrying out systematic attacks on the lives and livelihoods of the working people. He said that while corporate houses are being given free rein to exploit the country’s natural resources, the rights of workers and farmers are being curtailed, pushing them further into poverty. He described the February 12 nationwide strike as a strong step against what he termed anti-people policies.
Senior CPI(M) leaders Sameer Das, Amal Azad and Ravi Singh also addressed the meeting, which was presided over by Praphulla Linda.
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