New Delhi, Dec. 23 -- Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC) leader Satnam Singh Pannu on Tuesday alleged that the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) is being diluted and diverted from its original objective of ensuring livelihood security for rural and working-class families.

Pannu said that since its launch in 2005, MGNREGA had functioned as a rights-based programme, but recent changes introduced by the Central Government have altered its structure.

He cited official figures showing 26 crore job cards issued nationwide, with 12 crore beneficiaries. In Punjab, 20 lakh job cards have been issued, with 11 lakh workers employed.

"Across the country, around 26 crore job cards have been issued under the sche...