DMK cadre staging a demonstration condemning the Central government for not releasing funds towards MGNREGS at Kalingarayanpalayam in Erode district in Tamil Nadu on Saturday.
| Photo Credit: M. GOVARTHAN

Condemning the Union government for holding back funds meant for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), DMK cadre staged a demonstration across the district on Saturday.

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin had recently said that the Centre had failed to release ₹4,034 crore, resulting in wages not being paid to workers for over three months. He stated that demonstrations would be held across the State demanding immediate release of the funds.

Demonstrations were organised by the Erode South District DMK in Erode, Chennimalai, Modakkurichi, and Kodumudi unions, with cadre and women workers under the scheme participating in large numbers. Workers raised slogans, highlighting that they had not been paid for over three months and pointing out that their livelihoods were completely affected. They claimed that after the BJP came to power in 2019, it aimed to shut down the scheme that guaranteed 100 days of work to women in rural areas. As a result, it continued to reduce the fund allocation for the scheme and ultimately withheld the funds, affecting lakhs of workers. They demanded that the Centre release the funds immediately.

Likewise, demonstrations were held in Perundurai, Sathyamangalam, Anthiyur, Gobichettipalayam and Bhavanisagar areas.