Chennai, 17 December (H.S.) : The Tamil Nadu State Executive Committee of the All India Agricultural Workers Union (AIAWU) recently held a significant meeting in Karur to voice strong opposition against the Union government's proposal to rename the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).

Chaired by the State President and Gandarvakottai MLA, M. Chinnadurai, the committee argued that the move to rename the landmark legislation is an attempt to dilute the legacy of the scheme and shift focus away from its core objective of providing guaranteed wage employment to rural households. The union leaders expressed concern that such administrative changes often precede budget cuts or policy shifts that could negatively impact millions of agricultural laborers who depend on the program for their livelihood.

In addition to the renaming issue, the executive committee highlighted several long-standing grievances regarding the implementation of the scheme, including delayed wage payments and the need for an increase in the number of working days.

To register their protest, the AIAWU has announced a state-wide agitation scheduled for December 18, during which members will gather at various administrative centers to submit petitions and demand that the original identity and funding structure of the scheme remain intact.

The union has called upon agricultural workers across all districts to participate in the stir to protect their rights and ensure that the rural employment guarantee remains a robust safety net for the marginalized sections of society.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Dr. R. B. Chaudhary