New Delhi, July 7, 2025
The NREGA Sangharsh Morcha, a coalition of grassroots organizations and unions representing MGNREGA workers, has announced a nationwide strike on July 9th, 2025. This call aligns with the All-India General Strike organized by the Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions, Independent Federations, and the Samyukt Kisan Morcha. The strike aims to highlight the urgent demands and rights of the millions of workers under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
Historic Mobilization of Rural Workforce
MGNREGA, enacted in 2005, is one of the world’s largest social security and public works programs, providing wage employment to rural households. Over the years, it has become a lifeline for India’s most marginalized communities, including women, Adivasis, and Dalits. With over 13 crore job cards issued, MGNREGA workers form a significant segment of India’s workforce.
The NREGA Sangharsh Morcha has welcomed the inclusion of MGNREGA workers’ demands in the Charter of Demands of the Joint Platform and the Samyukt Kisan Morcha. The Morcha emphasized that the participation of MGNREGA workers is crucial for building a robust worker-peasant alliance across the country.
Key Demands of the Strike
The Morcha has outlined the following key demands:
- Increase MGNREGA Wages: Raise daily wages to ₹800 to ensure fair compensation and dignity for rural workers.
- Resume Work in West Bengal: Immediate resumption of MGNREGA work in West Bengal and repeal of Section 27 of the MGNREG Act.
- Scrap Anti-Worker Tech Mandates: Withdraw mandatory digital attendance (NMMS) and Aadhaar-Based Payment System (ABPS), which have led to widespread exclusion and payment delays.
- Timely Wage Payments: Ensure payment within 15 days, with compensation for any delay.
- Implement Parliamentary Recommendations: Enforce all suggestions made by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development.
- Reinstate Deleted Job Cards: Restore all job cards that have been arbitrarily deleted, ensuring no worker is left behind.
Building Alliances, Amplifying Voices
The NREGA Sangharsh Morcha is coordinating with allied organizations across India, including Anna Suraksha Adhikar Abhiyan, Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan, National Federation for Indian Women, and many more. These groups have a history of championing rural rights and have played a vital role in past movements for wage hikes and transparency in MGNREGA implementation.
Contact and Coordination
For further information, the Morcha has designated coordinators in various states, including Adhiraj (Delhi), Richa (Uttar Pradesh), Sandeep Singh (West Bengal), and Ranjit (Bihar). The full list of allied organizations and contact persons is available for media and worker queries.
A Call to Action
As the July 9th strike approaches, the NREGA Sangharsh Morcha has called upon MGNREGA workers from every corner of the country to join the movement, emphasizing that their collective voice is essential for securing justice, dignity, and fair wages.