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Opposition Protests ‘Removal’ of Gandhi’s Name From the Scheme 

New Delhi: The Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill, 2025, which seeks to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday amid strong opposition protests over the removal of Mahatma Gandhi’s name from the rural employment law.

Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, while tabling the Bill, said the government “not only believes in Mahatma Gandhi but also follows his principles,” asserting that the Modi government has done more for rural development than previous regimes.

Opposition Demands Panel Scrutiny

Opposition MPs strongly objected to the Bill at the introduction stage and demanded that it be referred to a parliamentary standing committee for detailed scrutiny. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi and other opposition members protested what they described as an attempt to erase the legacy of the Father of the Nation.

Several MPs entered the Well of the House, holding photographs of Mahatma Gandhi, to register their protest against the “removal” of his name from the flagship employment guarantee scheme.

Key Provisions of the New Bill

According to the Bill, the proposed law will provide a statutory guarantee of 125 days of wage employment in a financial year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to undertake unskilled manual work—an increase over the current 100-day guarantee under MGNREGA. The legislation mandates that state governments frame their own schemes within six months of the Act coming into force, in line with its provisions.

Government’s Rationale

In a statement, the Rural Development Ministry said the Bill seeks to establish a modern statutory framework aligned with the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’.

It said the new law aims to generate employment while creating durable rural assets through four priority verticals:

• water security and water-related works,

• core rural infrastructure,

• livelihood-linked infrastructure, and

• special works to mitigate the impact of extreme weather events.

All assets created under the scheme will be aggregated into a Viksit Bharat National Rural Infrastructure Stack, ensuring coordinated planning and execution at the national level, the ministry said.

Terming the proposed law a “major upgrade” over MGNREGA, the government said it would address structural weaknesses while enhancing transparency, accountability, and long-term rural planning.

Political Flashpoint

The introduction of the Bill has set the stage for a major political confrontation, with the opposition accusing the government of undermining Gandhi’s legacy, while the ruling party maintains that the reform is aimed at strengthening rural livelihoods and development.Further debate on the legislation is expected in the coming days.