Sri Vijaya Puram, Jan 12: The Andaman & Nicobar Territorial Congress Committee yesterday, on 11th January 2026, staged a peaceful “Hunger Strike” on the Banner “MGNREGA Bachao Sangram” at Goal Ghar, near the Ambedkar Statue, opposing the recent revision of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA).
The protest was led by the ANTCC President Shri Rangalal Halder and witnessed the participation of senior party leaders, including Chairman, Campaign Committee Shri G. Bhasker, along with ANTCC Chief Spokesperson Shri K. Ganeshan, ANTCC Spokesperson Shri Tamil Selvan, TCC Member Shri Sanjay Chaudhary, Block President Shri Muthuraman, Mahila Congress President Smt. Zubaida Begum and her Committee, City Congress President Shri Mohd Zubair, Congress Seva Dal Chief Organiser Shri T. Wajith and his Committee, Youth Congress President Ms. Diksha Dular, Youth Congress Vice-President Mr. M. A. Sajid, Fisherman Congress Chairman Shri Laxmi Narayan, Zila Parishad Member Ms. V. K. Mariyam Bibi, Rajiv Gandhi Panchayati Raj Sangathan Chairman Shri O. Bashir and his Committee, Unorganised Workers & Employees Congress Chairman Shri Tejaswara Rao, OBC Chairman Shri R. K. Raj, Municipal Councillors Smt. Mangayakarasi, Smt. Laxmi Ganeshan, Smt. Vasantha, Shri Y. Joga Rao, and members of the general public.
The programme was also graced by the esteemed presence of National In-charge, Youth Congress, Ms. Sinduja Raju.
Addressing the gathering, the protestors alleged that the revision of the scheme would drastically reduce employment opportunities for rural households and dilute the very objective of providing guaranteed wage employment to the needy. According to the party leaders, such changes would hit daily wage earners and marginalised sections the hardest, particularly in the island territories where employment avenues are limited. During the dharna pradarshan, the agitators also raised a wide range of local and long-pending issues affecting the lives of islanders.
Key demands included ensuring 100 per cent job reservation for islanders, immediate improvement of the poor condition of National Highway-4, and handing over its maintenance to the Andaman Public Works Department (APWD). The protestors further demanded uninterrupted power supply across the islands and urgent measures to curb the growing drug menace. Other prominent issues highlighted during the hunger strike included the opening of Lok Niwas for regular public hearings, availability of specialist doctors and improved medical facilities at G. B. Pant Hospital, re-implementation of the ANISHI scheme, and protection of tribal communities and their rights.
The Congress leaders also highlighted that continued neglect of these issues by the administration has severely affected the quality of life of the common people. Speaking to the media, Shri Rangalal Halder, President of ANTCC, said that the Congress party remains firmly committed to safeguarding the rights and welfare of islanders.
He asserted that the party would continue to oppose every policy and programme of the government that is not citizen-friendly or that adversely impacts the socio-economic interests of the people of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. He also warned that if the concerns raised are not addressed, the party would intensify its democratic agitation in the days to come.
The programme was successfully organised with the active support and participation of Block Congress President- South Block Shri P. B. Murugan and his Committee.