Sri Vijaya Puram | January 14, 2026
The Andaman & Nicobar Territorial Congress Committee (ANTCC) on Sunday organised a starvation strike at Goal Ghar close to the Ambedkar Statue underneath the banner “MGNREGA Bachao Sangram” to protest in opposition to the current revision of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
The programme was led by ANTCC President Mr. Rangalal Halder and was attended by a number of senior Congress leaders and celebration functionaries. Among these current had been Chairman, Campaign Committee Mr. G. Bhasker; ANTCC Chief Spokesperson Mr. Okay. Ganeshan; Spokesperson Mr. Tamil Selvam; TCC Member Mr. Sanjay Chaudhary; Block President Mr. Muthuraman; Mahila Congress President Ms. Zubaida Begum and members of her committee; City Congress President Mr. Mohd Zubair; Congress Seva Dal Chief Organiser Mr. T. Wajith and his committee; Youth Congress President Ms. Diksha Dular; Youth Congress Vice-President Mr. M. A. Sajid; Fisherman Congress Chairman Mr. Laxmi Narayan; Zila Parishad Member Ms. V. Okay. Mariyam Bibi; Rajiv Gandhi Panchayati Raj Sangathan Chairman Mr. O. Bashir and his committee; Unorganised Workers & Employees Congress Chairman mr. Tejaswara Rao; OBC Chairman Mr. R. Okay. Raj; Municipal Councillors Ms. Mangayakarasi, Ms. Laxmi Ganeshan, Ms. Vasantha and Mr. Y. Joga Rao, together with members of the general public.
National In-charge, Youth Congress, Ms. Sinduja Raju, was additionally current through the programme.
During the protest, Congress leaders said that the current revision of MGNREGA may have an effect on employment alternatives for rural households and alter the scheme’s unique targets. Speakers on the dharna pradarshan additionally highlighted numerous native and long-pending points regarding the islands.
The calls for raised included job reservation for islanders, enchancment of National Highway-4 and its upkeep by the Andaman Public Works Department (APWD), uninterrupted energy provide, measures to handle drug abuse, opening of Lok Niwas for public hearings, availability of specialist medical doctors and improved amenities at G. B. Pant Hospital, re-implementation of the ANISHI scheme, and safety of tribal communities and their rights.
Speaking to the media, ANTCC President Mr. Rangalal Halder mentioned that the celebration would proceed to boost points associated to public welfare by means of democratic means. He added that additional programmes can be organised if the issues highlighted through the protest weren’t addressed.
The starvation strike was organised with the help of Block Congress President (South Block) Mr. P. B. Murugan and his committee.
