Mon Jan 27 07:49:30 UTC 2025: ## Congress Demands MGNREGA Wage Hike in Upcoming Union Budget

**New Delhi, January 27, 2025** – The Congress party has accused the Modi government of neglecting Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) workers and demanded significant improvements to the scheme in the upcoming Union Budget.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh stated that the party seeks a daily wage increase to ₹400, aiming for a national minimum wage. He criticized the government’s arbitrary wage setting and called for a standing committee to evaluate wage adjustments. Further, he urged against mandating the Aadhar-Based Payment Bridge System (ABPS), citing its exclusion of 27% of workers.

Ramesh highlighted the scheme’s crucial role, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, noting a 33% increase in households seeking work between 2019-20 and 2020-21. Despite 9.31 crore active workers (75% women) in January 2025, he alleged a continued policy of indifference, citing reduced MGNREGA allocation as a share of GDP (0.26% compared to the World Bank’s recommended 1.7%). He also pointed out that a significant portion of the budget goes towards clearing past dues.

The Congress also demands an increase in the number of workdays from 100 to 150 and timely wage payments within the statutory 15 days, with compensation for delays. Ramesh criticized the deletion of nearly four crore job cards between 2019-20 and 2023-24, with only 1.2 crore added since. He cited issues with the National Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS) leading to unregistered attendance and delayed payments.

Many of these demands, Ramesh noted, are already included in the Demand for Grants Report (2024-2025) by the Parliamentary Standing Committee for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj. He emphasized the need for adequate financial provision to realize MGNREGA’s demand-driven vision, especially given the current economic slowdown. The Congress leader concluded by reiterating the party’s call for a substantial wage increase, aligning with their 2024 election manifesto.

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