MGNREGA vs VB-G RAM G Bill: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra opposed the new VB-G RAM G Bill in Parliament and said that it weakens the soul of MGNREGA. He demanded not to pass the bill in a hurry and send it to the standing committee.
Priyanka Gandhi on VB-G RAM G Bill: Political temperature rose in Parliament on Tuesday regarding rural employment. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra strongly opposed the new bill of the Central Government, which is being prepared to replace MGNREGA. Priyanka Gandhi alleged that the government wants to remove a law that has provided employment and dignity to crores of rural families in the last two decades and replace it with a weak alternative. The controversy started when Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan sought permission to introduce the Developed India Employment and Livelihood Mission (Rural) Bill, 2025 i.e. VB-G RAM G Bill. The government says that this bill will further strengthen rural employment, but the opposition is calling it an attack on the soul of MNREGA.
Law should not be made in haste – Priyanka Gandhi
Citing rules in the Lok Sabha, Priyanka Gandhi lodged an objection to the bill. He said that MNREGA has supported the rural economy since 2005 and it had the support of all parties. It is not right to change such a law without extensive discussion and consultation. Priyanka Gandhi said, ‘Mahatma Gandhi was not from my family, but he is a part of the entire country’s family. Laws should not be changed due to someone’s stubbornness or prejudice. He demanded that this bill be sent to the Standing Committee, so that every aspect can be considered in depth.
What will change by changing the name? Question on cost and impact
While talking to journalists outside the Parliament complex, Priyanka Gandhi asked a direct question to the government and said why the country’s money is being spent on changing the names of schemes? Changing the name does not change the situation on the ground, change happens when the work and wages reach the hands of the laborers on time. He said that superficially the new bill shows an increase in working days, but the real question is about the wage rate. He said, ‘Were the wages increased? In many places, workers say that payment does not come on time.
Crisis on 100 day guarantee?
Priyanka Gandhi’s big allegation is also that the new bill weakens the guarantee of 100 days of employment. The biggest strength of MNREGA was that even the poorest of the poor families were assured of getting work for at least 100 days in a year. The opposition says that in the new law this right is being converted into a scheme, which will weaken the position of the states and the workers. He also said that earlier Gram Panchayats used to decide what work would be done in the village, but in the new bill this authority will go into the hands of the Centre, due to which local needs may be left behind.
Statutory guarantee of 125 days employment-Government
The government says that the new bill gives a statutory guarantee of 125 days of employment to every rural family. According to the bill, the cost of the work will be shared between the Center and the states. 90:10 for the North-Eastern and Himalayan states, 60:40 for the remaining states and the entire expenditure will be borne by the Center for Union Territories without legislature. The government is calling it a step forward from MNREGA, but the opposition argues that guarantee on paper and rights on land are two different things.