MGNREGA vs. VB-G RAM G Bill
Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan moved the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025, known as the VB–G RAM G Bill. The move was met with dissent and sloganeering by Opposition members, some of whom displayed photographs of Mahatma Gandhi in protest. The House was repeatedly disrupted as tempers flared over what the Opposition described as “an attempt to erase Mahatma Gandhi’s name and dilute a landmark welfare law”.
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Opposition questions intent, funding and symbolism
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra led the charge against the proposed legislation, questioning both its substance and symbolism. She objected to the removal of Mahatma Gandhi’s name from the original Act and raised concerns about reduced allocations under the new framework.
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“Father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi, should not be insulted,” she said, adding that the Bill appeared to be more than a simple renaming exercise. She warned that the legislation could weaken the legal guarantee of 100 days of employment that MGNREGA provides to rural households.
Priyanka Gandhi also questioned the reduction in funding, alleging that allocations had fallen sharply. “The bill should not be passed in haste, without discussion. It should be withdrawn and referred to a Standing Committee,” she said, urging wider consultation before any decision is taken.
She further criticised what she called the Centre’s “obsession” with renaming schemes. “Changing names involves unnecessary expenditure. More importantly, this Bill weakens a right that was hard-won by the poorest of the poor,” she argued, also asking whether wages and employment days had genuinely been enhanced.
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Congress leaders KC Venugopal and Shashi Tharoor echoed similar concerns, with Tharoor stressing that MGNREGA was never meant to be a political programme but a rights-based safety net. NCP MP Supriya Sule also appealed to the government to send the Bill to a Standing Committee for detailed scrutiny.
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Government hits back, defends record
The Centre rejected the criticism, with Shivraj Singh Chouhan asserting that the government respects Mahatma Gandhi and follows his ideals in practice. He said the Modi government had done more for rural development than any previous administration and argued that the new mission would strengthen livelihood opportunities in villages.
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According to the government, the Bill is aimed at modernising rural employment schemes and aligning them with broader development goals under the ‘Viksit Bharat’ vision.
Chaos in Lok Sabha
The proceedings, which began with Question Hour and the tabling of official papers, were repeatedly stalled by protests. The revised List of Business also includes the laying of documents by several ministries, including Home Affairs, Agriculture, Rural Development and Social Justice.
Tuesday marked the 12th day of the Winter Session, which started on December 1 and is scheduled till December 19. So far, the session has been dominated by sharp political confrontations, with the MGNREGA replacement bill now emerging as one of its most contentious flashpoints.