The Lok Sabha on Thursday approved the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, replacing the old MGNREGA. The new law promises 125 days of wage work each year to rural households willing to do unskilled manual labour. While the government hailed it as a boost for village development and self-reliance, opposition parties criticised the renaming and removal of Gandhi’s name from the scheme.
Government Defends VB-G RAM G Bill
Introducing the Bill in the Lok Sabha, Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said it would ensure employment, reduce poverty, and support the vision of self-reliant villages. He stated that the VB-G RAM G Bill would lead to all-around village development and accelerate rural growth. BJP MP Brijmohan Agarwal defended the move, claiming the earlier scheme had become ineffective and corruption-prone. He argued that the new law would bring better accountability and meaningful employment to rural areas.
VIDEO | Parliament Winter Session: Lok Sabha passes G RAM G Bill amid opposition uproar.
The Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill will replace the UPA-era MGNREGA.#MGNREGA #GRAMGBill
(Source: Third Party)
(Full video available… pic.twitter.com/cSQIVopgBX
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 18, 2025
Opposition Slams Bill
Opposition leaders, including Mahua Moitra and Jai Prakash, criticised the Bill for removing Gandhi’s name, calling it disrespectful to his legacy. They also said the law could burden states financially and limit gram sabhas’ authority in local project decisions. Critics warned that the changes might weaken rural livelihood security and called for a careful review of the new policy.
