Sri Vijaya Puram, June 18: The MGNREGA Employees Association has announced that contractual employees working under MGNREGA in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands will undertake an indefinite strike starting June 23, 2026. The strike will be staged infront of the Directorate of RD, PRIs & ULBs, A&N Administration, Marine Hill, Sri Vijaya Puram.
The decision comes after prolonged delays and lack of concrete action by the A&N Administration on the long-pending demand for enhancement of consolidated salaries and service benefits. The Association stated that employees have been submitting representations since 2024, seeking salary revisions in line with those granted to staff under other Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSSs), as well as adjustments in response to the rising cost of living.
Despite repeated assurances from authorities that the proposal is “under process,” no final decision has been taken so far. This continued delay has led to growing frustration, financial strain, and dissatisfaction among employees, ultimately compelling them to resort to protest.
The Association highlighted that the existing pay structure, last revised in 2021, is inadequate. Since the inception of MGNREGA in 2008, salary increments have been minimal. For instance, the Programme Officer’s salary increased from Rs. 15,000/- in 2008 to Rs. 25,000/- in the FY 2021, Assistant Engineers Rs. 12,000/- to Rs.20,000/-, Accountants Rs. 9,000/- to Rs.16,000/-, Data Entry Operators, Gram Rozgar Sewaks, and Technical Assistants Rs. 8,000/- to Rs.14,000/- over a span of nearly 18 years of service. These figures, according to the Association, do not reflect the workload, responsibilities, or present economic conditions.
To address these concerns, the Association has submitted a charter of demands proposing revised monthly salaries of Rs. 50,000 for Programme Officers, Rs. 45,000 for Assistant Engineers, Rs. 40,000 for Accountants, and Rs. 35,000 for other staff categories. Additionally, the employees have demanded a 5% annual increment, provision of TA/DA as per government rules, and EPF coverage for all MGNREGA staff.
The Association emphasized that the decision to strike has been taken as a last resort after years of waiting and repeated appeals. While expressing willingness to resume duties upon a favourable resolution, the employees have made it clear that the strike will continue indefinitely if their demands remain unaddressed.
At present, the MGNREGA Act has been renamed and restructured with new provisions and reforms under the VB-G RAM G(Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission) Act, 2025. As a result, the workload is expected to be significantly higher than that under MGNREGA. Consequently, the responsibilities and accountability of all employees will also increase substantially.
Despite being skilled workers, the employees are being paid salaries that are even lower than the rates prescribed under DRM and the Minimum Wages Act, which is highly unjust and unfair.
The Association has urged the A&N Administration to take immediate and positive action to resolve the issue, warning that continued delay may disrupt MGNREGA activities and affect rural beneficiary’s dependent on the scheme.
