Outrage swept through Banaras Hindu University after police endeavored to thwart a serene ‘MGNREGA Bachao Sangram’ march, according to NSUI’s national head. The student initiative aimed to rally support for the act that’s buffered millions from destitution amid economic turbulence.
At its core, the demonstration protested dilutions in MGNREGA’s scope, which mandates minimum wage work for unskilled rural folk. With inflation biting and farm incomes stagnant, the scheme’s stability is non-negotiable, activists contended, displaying stats on its 2.5 crore annual households served.
Heavy policing near entrances created impasse, with dialogues failing to bridge gaps. NSUI decried it as stifling constitutional rights to assemble, while enforcers invoked public safety norms. The peaceful denouement belies underlying frictions in politically charged Varanasi.
Historically, MGNREGA transformed NREGA into a rights-based entitlement, fostering local governance via panchayats. Success stories abound—from drought-proofing villages to skill-building—but so do woes like underutilization in prosperous states. NSUI eyes this as launchpad for pan-India mobilization.
As university life resumes, echoes of the march linger, challenging narratives of youth apathy. It spotlights how campus fervor can sway national debates on equity, urging policymakers to heed grassroots pulses before electoral winds shift.