Mazdoor Mukti Morcha Punjab (Liberation) staged a sit-in on September 1 in Block Jhunir of Mansa district demanding the immediate resumption of MNREGA works. Hundreds of workers gathered in front of the BDPO office and submitted a memorandum to officials outlining their demands.
The memorandum outlined a series of demands including the reduction of MNREGA working hours from eight to six, withdrawal of amendments in labour laws, permanentisation of MNREGA mates, increase in minimum wages, and bringing the farming of small farmers under MNREGA. Workers also demanded that Gram Panchayats ensure maintenance of crops, a daily MNREGA wage of Rs. 1000, 200 days of work per year, and an end to the practice of contracting in MNREGA. Additional demands included allowances for work beyond five kilometers, transport arrangements for distant work sites, improved network facilities, and compensation for losses due to floods including Rs. 10 lakh per person for loss of life, Rs. 5 lakh per family for house damage, and Rs. 70 thousand per acre for crop loss. The workers also called for cancellation of false unemployment documents and employment guarantees according to qualifications.
The dharna was addressed by CPI (ML) Liberation Central Committee member Comrade Rajwinder Rana and Mazdoor Mukti Morcha Punjab District President Comrade Balwinder Singh Gharanga. The sit-in was led by the organisation’s Block President Comrade Darshan Singh Daanewala, CPI (ML) Liberation’s Block Secretary Binder Kaur, and Harmesh Singh Bhamme Khurd, who coordinated the mobilisation on the ground.
The protest highlighted growing frustration among workers over stalled projects and inadequate compensation, and the organisers warned of further mobilisation if the government fails to meet their demands.
