{"id":6861,"date":"2026-02-02T23:34:46","date_gmt":"2026-02-02T18:04:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/?p=6861"},"modified":"2026-02-02T23:34:46","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T18:04:46","slug":"right-to-work-snatched-mass-protest-in-bengaluru-against-vb-gram-g-act","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/?p=6861","title":{"rendered":"“Right to Work Snatched”: Mass Protest in Bengaluru Against VB-Gram G Act"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Coalition Demands State Reject Central Law, Reinstate NREGA<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Bengaluru, Feb 2:<\/strong>\u00a0A broad coalition of workers\u2019 unions, farmers\u2019 groups, and civil society organizations has passed a resolution demanding the Karnataka state government formally reject the central government\u2019s \u2018VB-Gram G\u2019 Act and urge the President to issue an order to continue the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA).<\/p>\n

The demands were ratified during a \u2018Maha Panchayat\u2019 held at Freedom Park as part of the \u2018Save NREGA\u2019 campaign. The coalition has urged the state government to forward the resolutions to the President through the Governor and take immediate steps to strengthen the rural job scheme.<\/p>\n

Decentralization vs. Centralization: The Core Conflict<\/strong><\/p>\n

At the heart of the protest is the accusation that the central government has replaced a constitutional right with a discretionary scheme. Activist Noor Sridhar, addressing the gathering, stated, \u201cNREGA, which was the backbone of the rural poor and a constitutional right, has been repealed by the central government. It has been replaced by the VB-Gram G Act, which centralizes all decision-making power, disempowers people, and shifts the accountability onto state governments.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sridhar elaborated that NREGA, a symbol of decentralization, has been replaced by a centralized plan. \u201cThe assurance of \u2018work for as many days as demanded\u2019 under NREGA has been changed to \u2018work as per requirement\u2019 under VB-Gram G. The right to work has been snatched away, and there is no guarantee of employment,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

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‘\u0cb5\u0cbf.\u0cac\u0cbf.-\u0c97\u0ccd\u0cb0\u0cbe\u0cae\u0ccd \u0c9c\u0cbf’ \u0c95\u0cbe\u0caf\u0ccd\u0ca6\u0cc6 \u0ca4\u0cbf\u0cb0\u0cb8\u0ccd\u0c95\u0cbe\u0cb0, \u0ca8\u0cb0\u0cc7\u0c97\u0cbe \u0caa\u0cc1\u0ca8\u0c83 \u0cb8\u0ccd\u0ca5\u0cbe\u0caa\u0ca8\u0cc6: \u0c92\u0c95\u0ccd\u0c95\u0cc2\u0c9f\u0ca6 \u0cac\u0cc7\u0ca1\u0cbf\u0c95\u0cc6<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Key Demands and Allegations of Dilution<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

The Maha Panchayat outlined specific concerns and demands:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • \n

    Job Days & Wages:<\/strong>\u00a0The coalition demanded that NREGA be not only continued but expanded. The guarantee of \u201c100 days of work per family\u201d should be converted to \u201c100 days per individual,\u201d ensuring an average of 300 days of work per household. The minimum wage under the scheme must be raised to \u20b9600.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    Loss of Local Autonomy:<\/strong>\u00a0Protesters highlighted that while Gram Panchayats decided the nature of work under NREGA, this power will now rest with the central government.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    Funding & Implementation Flaws:<\/strong>\u00a0Sridhar criticized the funding structure, noting, \u201cThe central government should have allocated \u20b92.3 lakh crore for this scheme, excluding the state share, but only \u20b995,000 crore has been earmarked in the budget. This is a strategy to reduce work.\u201d He also demanded the removal of the clause requiring states to fund 40% of the scheme.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    Risk of Corruption:<\/strong> A significant concern raised was the creation of avenues for middlemen. \u201cNREGA had no space for intermediaries. VB-Gram G opens the door for them. Therefore, NREGA must be reinstated,\u201d Sridhar asserted.<\/p>\n

    \"\"
    \u0c95\u0cc7\u0c82\u0ca6\u0ccd\u0cb0\u0cc0\u0c95\u0cb0\u0ca3\u0ca6 \u0cb5\u0cbf\u0cb0\u0cc1\u0ca6\u0ccd\u0ca7 \u0cb8\u0cae\u0cb0: \u0cb0\u0cbe\u0c9c\u0ccd\u0caf \u0cb8\u0cb0\u0ccd\u0c95\u0cbe\u0cb0 \u0cb0\u0cbe\u0cb7\u0ccd\u0c9f\u0ccd\u0cb0\u0caa\u0ca4\u0cbf\u0c97\u0cc6 \u0ca8\u0cbf\u0cb0\u0ccd\u0ca3\u0caf \u0c95\u0cb3\u0cc1\u0cb9\u0cbf\u0cb8\u0cb2\u0cc1 \u0c92\u0ca4\u0ccd\u0ca4\u0ca1<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    For Media Updates: +91-93531 21474 [WhatsApp] |\u00a0indianowme@gmail.com<\/p>\n

    Broad-Based Support for the Movement<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

    The Maha Panchayat saw participation from a wide array of organizations, including the NREGA Protection Coalition, Rural Wage Labourers\u2019 Associations, the Anti-Land Acquisition Struggle Committee, the Land and Housing Rights Deprived Struggle Committee, Karnataka Janashakti, CPI(ML), and various farmers\u2019, dalit, women\u2019s, and writers\u2019 forums.<\/p>\n

    The resolution places the onus on the state government to act as a conduit for their grievances to the highest office and to take a definitive stand against the central legislation, framing the issue as a fight to preserve a fundamental right to livelihood and local governance.<\/p>\n

    \n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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    Key Quotes<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
      \n
    1. \n

      Activist Noor Sridhar:<\/strong>\u00a0“NREGA, which was the backbone of the rural poor and a constitutional right, has been repealed… The VB-Gram G Act centralizes all decision-making power, disempowers people, and shifts accountability onto state governments.”<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

    2. \n

      From the Resolution:<\/strong>\u00a0“The assurance of \u2018work for as many days as demanded\u2019 has been changed to \u2018work as per requirement\u2019. The right to work has been snatched away.”<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

    3. \n

      On Funding:<\/strong>\u00a0“This (reduced budget) is a strategy to reduce work. NREGA had no space for intermediaries. VB-Gram G opens the door for them.”<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

    4. \n

      \u0c95\u0cbe\u0cb0\u0ccd\u0caf\u0c95\u0cb0\u0ccd\u0ca4 \u0ca8\u0cc2\u0cb0\u0ccd \u0cb6\u0ccd\u0cb0\u0cc0\u0ca7\u0cb0\u0ccd:<\/strong>\u00a0“\u0c97\u0ccd\u0cb0\u0cbe\u0cae\u0cc0\u0ca3 \u0cac\u0ca1\u0cb5\u0cb0 \u0cac\u0cc6\u0ca8\u0ccd\u0ca8\u0cc6\u0cb2\u0cc1\u0cac\u0cc1, \u0cb8\u0c82\u0cb5\u0cbf\u0ca7\u0cbe\u0ca8\u0cac\u0ca6\u0ccd\u0ca7 \u0cb9\u0c95\u0ccd\u0c95\u0cbe\u0c97\u0cbf\u0ca6\u0ccd\u0ca6 \u0ca8\u0cb0\u0cc7\u0c97\u0cbe\u0cb5\u0ca8\u0ccd\u0ca8\u0cc1 \u0cb0\u0ca6\u0ccd\u0ca6\u0cc1\u0c97\u0cca\u0cb3\u0cbf\u0cb8\u0cb2\u0cbe\u0c97\u0cbf\u0ca6\u0cc6… \u0cb5\u0cbf.\u0cac\u0cbf.-\u0c97\u0ccd\u0cb0\u0cbe\u0cae\u0ccd \u0c9c\u0cbf \u0c95\u0cbe\u0caf\u0ccd\u0ca6\u0cc6 \u0c8e\u0cb2\u0ccd\u0cb2\u0cbe \u0ca4\u0cc0\u0cb0\u0ccd\u0cae\u0cbe\u0ca8\u0c97\u0cb3\u0ca8\u0ccd\u0ca8\u0cc1 \u0c95\u0cc7\u0c82\u0ca6\u0ccd\u0cb0\u0cc0\u0c95\u0cb0\u0cbf\u0cb8\u0cc1\u0ca4\u0ccd\u0ca4\u0ca6\u0cc6, \u0c9c\u0ca8\u0cb0\u0ca8\u0ccd\u0ca8\u0cc1 \u0c85\u0cb6\u0c95\u0ccd\u0ca4\u0c97\u0cca\u0cb3\u0cbf\u0cb8\u0cc1\u0ca4\u0ccd\u0ca4\u0ca6\u0cc6.”<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

    5. \n

      \u0ca8\u0cbf\u0cb0\u0ccd\u0ca3\u0caf\u0ca6\u0cbf\u0c82\u0ca6:<\/strong>\u00a0“‘\u0cac\u0cc7\u0ca1\u0cbf\u0c95\u0cc6 \u0c87\u0ca6\u0ccd\u0ca6\u0cb7\u0ccd\u0c9f\u0cc1 \u0ca6\u0cbf\u0ca8 \u0c95\u0cc6\u0cb2\u0cb8’ \u0c8e\u0c82\u0cac \u0cad\u0cb0\u0cb5\u0cb8\u0cc6\u0caf\u0ca8\u0ccd\u0ca8\u0cc1 ‘\u0c85\u0c97\u0ca4\u0ccd\u0caf \u0c87\u0cb0\u0cc1\u0cb5\u0cb7\u0ccd\u0c9f\u0cc1 \u0c95\u0cc6\u0cb2\u0cb8’\u0c97\u0cc6 \u0cac\u0ca6\u0cb2\u0cbe\u0caf\u0cbf\u0cb8\u0cb2\u0cbe\u0c97\u0cbf\u0ca6\u0cc6. \u0c95\u0cc6\u0cb2\u0cb8 \u0cae\u0cbe\u0ca1\u0cc1\u0cb5 \u0cb9\u0c95\u0ccd\u0c95\u0cc1 \u0c95\u0cbf\u0ca4\u0ccd\u0ca4\u0cc1\u0c95\u0cca\u0c82\u0ca1\u0cbf\u0ca6\u0cc6.”<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

    6. \n

      \u0c85\u0ca8\u0cc1\u0ca6\u0cbe\u0ca8\u0ca6 \u0cac\u0c97\u0ccd\u0c97\u0cc6:<\/strong>\u00a0“\u0c87\u0ca6\u0cc1 \u0c95\u0cc6\u0cb2\u0cb8 \u0c95\u0ca1\u0cbf\u0cae\u0cc6 \u0cae\u0cbe\u0ca1\u0cc1\u0cb5 \u0cb9\u0cc1\u0ca8\u0ccd\u0ca8\u0cbe\u0cb0\u0ccd. \u0ca8\u0cb0\u0cc7\u0c97\u0cbe\u0ca6\u0cb2\u0ccd\u0cb2\u0cbf \u0cae\u0ca7\u0ccd\u0caf\u0cb5\u0cb0\u0ccd\u0ca4\u0cbf\u0c97\u0cb3 \u0c85\u0cb5\u0c95\u0cbe\u0cb6 \u0c87\u0cb0\u0cb2\u0cbf\u0cb2\u0ccd\u0cb2. ‘\u0cb5\u0cbf.\u0cac\u0cbf.-\u0c97\u0ccd\u0cb0\u0cbe\u0cae\u0ccd \u0c9c\u0cbf’\u0caf\u0cb2\u0ccd\u0cb2\u0cbf \u0c85\u0cb5\u0c95\u0cbe\u0cb6\u0cb5\u0cbe\u0c97\u0cbf\u0ca6\u0cc6.”<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n

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      <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Coalition Demands State Reject Central Law, Reinstate NREGA Bengaluru, Feb 2:\u00a0A broad coalition of workers\u2019 unions, farmers\u2019 groups, and civil society organizations has passed a resolution demanding the Karnataka state government formally reject the central government\u2019s \u2018VB-Gram G\u2019 Act and urge the President to issue an order to continue the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6862,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[66,96],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6861","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-karnataka","category-politics"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6861","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6861"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6861\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6865,"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6861\/revisions\/6865"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/6862"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6861"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6861"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6861"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}