Farm Workers Protest in Ballari Demanding 100 Days of Guaranteed Employment

On April 16, 2026, rural farm workers affiliated with the All India Kisan Khet Mazdoor Sangh (AIKKMS) staged a significant protest near the Zilla Panchayat office in Ballari, Karnataka. The demonstrators demanded the restoration and implementation of guaranteed 100 days of employment for every rural household, referencing provisions under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), which the report notes as repealed. During the demonstration, the protesters submitted a formal memorandum addressed to both the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister. This document was handed over through the Chief Executive Officer of the Zilla Panchayat, urging immediate governmental intervention. The core objective of the protest is to press for urgent measures that ensure adequate and stable employment opportunities for rural laborers who are currently facing job insecurity. The event highlights ongoing tensions regarding rural livelihood security and the aftermath of changes to major social welfare schemes in India. The protest underscores the critical dependence of agricultural workers on state-sponsored employment guarantees and their collective action to seek policy reversals or alternative support mechanisms from higher authorities.