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NEW DELHI: The Lok Sabha witnessed a major uproar as the opposition staged a protest while the government on Tuesday tabled Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill, 2025, which seeks to replace MGNREGA.Several opposition MPs including Priyanka Gandhi, KC Venugopal and Manish Tiwari strongly objected the removal of Mahatma Gandhi’s name and demanded that the bill be referred to a parliamentary committee for detailed scrutiny.
“We don’t understand the government’s obsession with renaming every scheme. Whenever this is done, the center has to spend money. This bill should not be passed without discussion and consultation with the House.
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This bill should be withdrawn, and instead, a new bill should be passed. For thorough scrutiny and extensive discussion, this bill should be referred to the Parliament’s Standing Committee,” Priyanka Gandhi said. Priyanka Gandhi said the proposed bill weakens the legal right to employment, arguing that it runs contrary to constitutional principles. She pointed out that while MGNREGA was funded largely by the Centre, the new framework would reduce central funding to about 60 per cent for most states, increasing the financial burden on state governments, particularly those awaiting pending GST dues. She also said the bill expands the Centre’s control while reducing its responsibilities, and criticised the proposal for raising the number of guaranteed workdays from 100 to 125 without addressing wages. Shashi Tharoor also attacked the government and said that the new bill “repsents a deeply regrettable and retrograde step” for the country.”I would like to oppose the introduction of the proposed bill, the VB–G RAM G Bill, which represents a deeply regrettable and retrograde step for our nation and for our nation’s commitment to the welfare of its most vulnerable citizens,” Tharoor said in Lok Sabha.”My first objection, as with others, is the ill-advised decision to remove the name of the Father of the Nation, for the reasons already stated, which I will not repeat. But this is not merely an administrative tweak; it is an assault on the very spirit and philosophical foundation of this crucial programme,” he added.Meanwhile, Union minsiter Shivraj Singh Chauhan countered the opposition, saying that that government not only believes in Mahatma Gandhi but also follows his principles.“Mahatma Gandhi ji lives in our hearts. It was the resolve of both Gandhi ji and Pandit Deendayal that the welfare of the most downtrodden should be the top priority. We believe in their principles and are running several poverty alleviation schemes based on them,” Chauhan said. “Earlier, the Congress party renamed the Jawahar Rozgar Yojana, but was that considered as disrespect to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru?” he asked.What the bill proposes According to the copy of the bill, the new rural employment scheme provides a statutory guarantee of 125 days of wage employment in a financial year to every rural household whose adult members are willing to undertake unskilled manual work.The proposed framework envisages the preparation of ‘Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans’ by Gram Panchayats on a saturation basis, ensuring convergence of schemes through the use of PM Gati Shakti. An integrated ‘Viksit Bharat National Rural Infrastructure Stack’ is also planned to support the execution of rural public works.The initiative places special emphasis on water security, core rural infrastructure, livelihood-related assets, and works aimed at mitigating the impact of extreme weather events. It includes provisions to facilitate the availability of farm labour during peak agricultural seasons, alongside strengthened transparency and accountability measures such as weekly public disclosures and enhanced social audits. The governance model is designed around digital public infrastructure to enable efficient, transparent, and high-integrity implementation.In a statement, the Ministry of Rural Development said the proposed legislation would establish a modern statutory framework aligned with the vision of “Viksit Bharat 2047.” The ministry described the bill as a “major upgrade” over MGNREGA, stating that it addresses structural shortcomings while strengthening employment generation, transparency, planning, and accountability. Go to Source