Alappuzha's rural employment guarantee workers strike over scheme changes

Alappuzha's Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme workers will strike on January 15, with 1.95 lakh employees participating. The protest is against the scheme's name change and new regulations, including reduced central funding and restrictions during the agricultural season, which workers fear will decrease workdays. The scheme was renamed "Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission (Rural)," removing Mahatma Gandhi's name, and central share reduced to 60%.