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Lok Sabha Passes VB-G RAM G Bill Amid Opposition Chaos—What It Means for Rural Jobs

The Lok Sabha passed the VB-G RAM G Bill in a session marked by major protests from the Opposition. The new legislation replaces the MGNREGA scheme with an enhanced guarantee of 125 days of work. Union Minister Shivraj Chouhan passionately defended the bill, arguing that Prime Minister Modi's government, not the Congress, is truly keeping Gandhi's ideals alive through its welfare programs. The Opposition, however, slammed the move as an insult to Gandhi and a weakening of workers' rights.

Key Points: Lok Sabha Passes VB-G RAM G Bill Replacing MGNREGA Amid Protests

  • Lok Sabha passes VB-G RAM G Bill via voice vote amid loud Opposition protests and sloganeering
  • Bill replaces MGNREGA, guarantees 125 days of wage employment annually for rural households
  • Shivraj Chouhan defends Bill, says Gandhi's ideals live on in Modi govt schemes like PMAY, Jal Jeevan
  • Opposition decries Bill as erosion of MGNREGA rights and an insult to Gandhi by removing his name
2 min read

LS passes VB-G RAM G Bill amid Oppn protest; PM Modi keeps Gandhi's ideals alive, says Shivraj Chouhan

Lok Sabha passes VB-G RAM G Bill, replacing MGNREGA with 125-day job guarantee. Shivraj Chouhan says PM Modi keeps Gandhi's ideals alive, sparking Opposition protests.

"The Congress party worked to kill Bapu's ideals, while Narendra Modi ji worked to keep Bapu's ideals alive. - Shivraj Singh Chouhan"

New Delhi, Dec 18

In a tumultuous session marked by loud protests and sloganeering from Opposition benches, the Lok Sabha passed the Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025 (VB-G RAM-G Bill) via voice vote on Thursday.

The legislation, which replaces the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) with an enhanced guarantee of 125 days of wage employment annually for rural households, was cleared despite demands for further scrutiny.

The House was subsequently adjourned till December 19. Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, defending the Bill amid disruptions, sharply contrasted the government's approach with the Opposition's legacy.

"The Congress party worked to kill Bapu's ideals, while Narendra Modi ji worked to keep Bapu's ideals alive," he declared.

Invoking Mahatma Gandhi's vision, Chouhan highlighted how the Modi government's flagship schemes embody Gandhian principles in action.

"Bapu is alive today in the houses built under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, in Jal Jeevan Mission and Swachh Bharat Mission, in Ujjwala Yojana where smoke has been removed from ten crore kitchens, in Ayushman Bharat assuring treatment for 36 crore people, and in 1.5 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs providing affordable medicines," he said in the House.

He further noted Gandhi's presence in Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), Jan Dhan Yojana, Mudra Yojana, Skill India, Atal Mission, and PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana.

"Bapu is not just alive in pictures and posters, but in all our hearts. Bapu's ideals are alive in this scheme," Chouhan asserted, referencing the Bill's 60:40 Centre-state funding ratio to build a "new India".

He emphasised that the legislation will play a pivotal role in uplifting the poor through empowerment, growth, and saturation of rural infrastructure.

Minister Chouhan concluded his emotive speech with a poem by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, underscoring national unity and progress.

The Opposition, led by Congress, decried the Bill as an erosion of MGNREGA's demand-driven rights and an "insult" to Gandhi by removing his name.

Protests continued throughout the reply, forcing brief adjournments earlier in the day. Earlier, Congress member K.C. Venugopal demanded that the Bill be referred to the JPC or the Standing Committee.

After passing the Bill, Speaker Om Birla adjourned the House for the day.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Priyanka N
Why remove Gandhi's name? MGNREGA was a landmark law. Replacing it feels like erasing history. The opposition has a point about sending it to a committee for proper scrutiny. Such important bills shouldn't be passed amidst chaos. 🤔
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Sarah B
As someone who has worked in rural development, the 60:40 funding ratio is interesting. It puts more onus on states. Hope it doesn't lead to disparities where poorer states struggle to contribute their share. The intent seems good, but implementation will be everything.
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Aman W
Chouhan ji's speech was powerful! He's right. Gandhiji's ideals are in action, not just in names. From Swachh Bharat to Ujjwala, the impact is visible in villages. This bill seems like the next step in that journey of empowerment. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳
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Karthik V
The parliamentary drama is unfortunate. Both sides should debate properly. That said, if the new scheme delivers 125 days of work efficiently and builds durable assets like roads and ponds, it will be a game-changer for my village in Bihar.
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Nisha Z
I appreciate the sentiment, but linking every government scheme to Gandhi feels a bit forced. The real tribute would be to ensure this bill truly works for the poorest, without the bureaucratic hurdles that often plague such programs. Let's see the results on the ground.

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