The Visakhapatnam district committee of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) staged a protest at Maddilapalem Junction on Wednesday, demanding that the Centre strengthen the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and repeal the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-GRAM G).
Addressing the gathering, CITU district general secretary R.K.S.V. Kumar said the MGNREGS, implemented in 2006, had provided livelihood security to rural workers and should be strengthened by addressing its shortcomings rather than being replaced. He demanded that the guaranteed number of workdays be increased to 200 a year and the minimum daily wage be raised to ₹600.
Mr. Kumar alleged that the proposed VB-GRAM G framework contained provisions detrimental to rural workers and claimed that the revised funding pattern, under which States would bear 40% of the programme expenditure and the Centre the remaining 60%, would weaken its implementation.
He also demanded that an employment guarantee programme be extended to urban areas and accused the Union government of pursuing policies that were detrimental to workers and agricultural labourers. Referring to the labour codes, he alleged that the Centre had weakened labour protections by replacing 29 labour laws with four labour codes.
The protesters warned of nationwide agitations involving farmers’ and agricultural workers’ organisations if the Centre did not withdraw the proposed legislation.
Earlier, CITU members took out a rally from Kalabharati Junction to Maddilapalem Junction, where they formed a human chain. CITU leaders along with workers participated in the protest.
Published – July 01, 2026 11:18 pm IST