New Delhi, 22 May 2025:
In a strong pitch for the country’s rural workforce, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has demanded that daily wages under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) be increased to ₹400.
Speaking on Tuesday, Ramesh emphasized the urgent need to support rural India amid rising inflation and economic stress. “MGNREGA has been a lifeline for millions of families, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. But today, the current wage is simply not enough,” he said.
Currently, the MGNREGA wage rate varies from ₹221 to ₹357 per day, depending on the state, with the average falling far below the minimum needed for a family’s sustenance. “We are calling for a fair and just wage of ₹400 per day. This will not only empower workers but also boost the rural economy,” Ramesh added.
He also criticized the Modi government for cutting budget allocations for MGNREGA over the past few years. “This is not a freebie; it’s a right enshrined in law. It is the government’s duty to strengthen it, not weaken it,” he stated.
The demand comes just ahead of key state elections, with rural employment expected to be a major issue on the ground.
Ramesh further pointed out that MGNREGA was a UPA-era initiative launched in 2006, and claimed that it remains one of India’s strongest tools for poverty reduction. The Congress party has promised to revise the wage structure if it comes to power.
The ball is now in the Centre’s court as voices grow louder for better wages and stronger social security in rural India.
