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Viksit Bharat Bill: Why Renaming MGNREGA Sparks Political Battle

The government is determined to pass the VB-G RAM G Bill in the current Parliament session. This new legislation would replace the long-standing MGNREGA scheme. It promises to increase guaranteed workdays from 100 to 125 and involves a massive financial commitment. However, the move has ignited a fierce political debate, with the opposition accusing the government of undermining a key social welfare program.

Key Points: Shivraj Chouhan Introduces VB-G RAM G Bill to Replace MGNREGA

  • Bill guarantees 125 days of wage employment per rural household annually
  • Opposition leaders accuse govt of diluting MGNREGA's legacy and intent
  • New scheme requires fresh registration and a Rs 7.50 lakh crore five-year allocation
  • Failure to pass could complicate budgetary provisions for the new legal framework
2 min read

Govt determined to clear VB-G RAM G Bill in current Parliament session

The government pushes to pass the VB-G RAM G Bill, replacing MGNREGA with a 125-day work guarantee and a Rs 7.50 lakh crore allocation, amid opposition criticism.

"The introduction of the bill effectively proposes renaming and restructuring the existing Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) - Article"

New Delhi, Dec 16

Union Minister for Rural Development and Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, on Tuesday introduced the Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin): VB-G RAM G Bill, 2025 in the Lok Sabha.

According to sources, the government is firm on getting the bill passed during the current parliamentary session.

The ruling side argues that renaming employment schemes is not new, citing the transition from Jawahar Rozgar Yojana to NREGA, and later to MGNREGA, as part of a continuous evolution in rural employment policies.

Sources also indicate that failure to pass the bill in this session could complicate budgetary provisions, as VB–G RAM G is a new scheme requiring a fresh legal framework.

Once enacted, rural workers will need to register afresh under the new law to avail benefits.

The proposed legislation aims to establish a new rural development framework aligned with the national vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.

Under the bill, the government seeks to provide a statutory guarantee of 125 days of wage employment in every financial year to each rural household whose adult members voluntarily undertake unskilled manual work.

The bill also focuses on promoting empowerment, growth, convergence, and saturation to build a prosperous and resilient rural India.

The introduction of the bill effectively proposes renaming and restructuring the existing Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) into the new VB–G RAM G Scheme.

This move has triggered sharp reactions from the opposition, with senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi and several other opposition leaders accusing the government of attempting to dilute the legacy and intent of MGNREGA.

Addressing criticism over the guarantee of employment, government sources stated that nearly 40 lakh families have already received 100 days of work under MGNREGA, countering claims that workers do not get the assured employment.

The government has planned to allocate Rs 7.50 lakh crore over the next five years for the new scheme, which highlights its large-scale commitment to rural livelihoods. If passed, the VB–G RAM G Bill will officially replace MGNREGA. It will increase guaranteed workdays from 100 to 125, and will also redefine India’s rural employment framework for the coming decades, say analysts.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priyanka N
While increasing work days is good, why rename a scheme that is known by the people? MGNREGA has brand recognition in villages. This feels like political branding rather than substantive improvement. The focus should be on timely wage payments, which is the real issue.
A
Aman W
My uncle in Bihar depends on such work. The promise of 125 days is a lifeline. But the article says workers will have to register afresh? That sounds like a bureaucratic nightmare. Hope the process is made simple and digital.
S
Sarah B
Interesting to see the evolution from JRY to NREGA to MGNREGA and now this. The government has a point about schemes evolving. The key metric will be whether more families actually get the full 125 days of work on the ground.
K
Karthik V
VB-G RAM G... another acronym to remember! Jokes aside, aligning it with Viksit Bharat 2047 is a good long-term vision. Empowerment and convergence are needed. But the proof will be in the pudding – let's see if it creates durable rural assets.
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Meera T
The opposition's criticism about diluting legacy is valid to some extent. MGNREGA is one of the most important social safety nets we have. Any change must strengthen it, not weaken it. Hope the parliamentary debate is thorough and not rushed.

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