Govt to Replace MGNREGA with VB-G RAM G Scheme, Oppn Questions Problem with Mahatma Gandhi

The Central government has tabled a controversial Bill in the Lok Sabha during the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament to repeal the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and introduce a new rural jobs framework titled the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), abbreviated as VB-G RAM G.

The BJP has issued a three-line whip to its MPs, directing them to remain present in the House to support the Bill's passage. The legislation is positioned as a modernised approach aligned with the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, aiming to enhance rural development through targeted infrastructure and employment guarantees.

Introduced in 2005 by the UPA government, MGNREGA has been a landmark demand-driven programme providing at least 100 days of wage employment annually to rural households volunteering for unskilled manual work. The new Bill proposes several key changes:

- Increasing the guaranteed employment from 100 to 125 days per year.
- Mandating wage payments within 7 to 15 days of work completion, with provisions for unemployment allowance in case of delays.
- Categorising permissible works into four priority areas: water security, rural infrastructure, livelihood support, and disaster resilience.
- Suspending works during peak agricultural seasons to avoid labour shortages in farming.
- Enhancing transparency through biometric verification, geotagging of worksites, and multi-level grievance redressal mechanisms.

A significant shift involves funding: Unlike MGNREGA, where the Centre fully funds unskilled wages, the new scheme adopts a 60:40 cost-sharing ratio between the Centre and states (90:10 for northeastern and Himalayan states, and 100% Central funding for Union Territories). With an estimated annual outlay of Rs 1.51 lakh crore, the Centre's share would be approximately Rs 95,692 crore.

The move has sparked sharp criticism from the Opposition, particularly the Congress, which accuses the government of undermining a successful rights-based programme while indulging in symbolic rebranding.

Senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra questioned the rationale behind removing Mahatma Gandhi's name from the scheme. "Mahatma Gandhi is regarded as the greatest leader not just in India but worldwide. Why strip his name from this programme? Every such change incurs huge costs on stationery, signage, and administrative rework," she remarked. "Parliament is stalled on critical issues, yet time and public funds are wasted on this."

Congress MP Ranjeet Ranjan echoed the sentiment, stating, "The BJP previously targeted names associated with Nehru and Indira Gandhi. Now, they seem to have an issue even with Bapu. Instead of renaming, focus on ensuring timely fund releases to states, extending workdays meaningfully, and strengthening the existing scheme."

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