Ranchi:: Millions of workers engaged under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) observed a nationwide strike on Friday in support of their various demands. Work at rural sites was affected in several places, while protest demonstrations were also organized across different regions. The movement was jointly organized by the Joint Platform of Agricultural and Rural Workers’ Unions and the NREGA Sangharsh Morcha. The Joint Platform of Trade Unions and the Samyukta Kisan Morcha also extended their support to the strike.
The strike was described as part of the ongoing movement linked to the demands raised during the All India General Strike held on February 12, 2026. The joint platform alleged that the Central Government was systematically weakening MGNREGA, the country’s only legally guaranteed employment scheme.
The organizations placed four major demands before the government. These included repealing the VB Gram (G) Act and restoring a stronger MGNREGA framework, ensuring at least 200 days of employment annually for every family, and implementing a minimum daily wage of ₹700 with revisions twice a year based on the inflation index.
The organizations also demanded an immediate halt to digital attendance systems, Aadhaar-linked payments, and facial recognition-based attendance mechanisms, terming them anti-worker measures. According to the protesters, technical flaws in these systems have deprived millions of poor workers of timely wages.
The organizations further demanded that Gram Sabhas be empowered with primary responsibility for planning, implementation, and social audits of MGNREGA works in order to strengthen local democracy.
As part of the strike, several organizations held protest demonstrations and raised slogans against the policies of the Central Government. Leaders also announced plans to intensify the united struggle for the protection of workers’ rights and rural employment guarantees.
The state committees of Jharkhand Khet Evam Gramin Mazdoor Union, Jharkhand Rajya Kisan Sabha, and the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) appealed to workers and democratic sections of society to extend support to the ongoing movement.
Prominent leaders who participated in the protest included Comrade P. Krishna Prasad, Avadhesh Kumar, Virendra Kumar, Surjeet Sinha, Rita Swansi, Umesh Mahto, Aseem Sarkar, Suphal Mahto, Prafull Linda, Madhua Kachhap, Pradeep Gudiya, Ashok Sah, Sapwan Mahto, and Shankar Oraon.
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