The Indian Parliament witnessed a dramatic session on Thursday as it passed the VB-G RAM G Bill, formally replacing the long-standing Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). The legislation, titled Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, has ignited intense political debate, with the ruling BJP touting it as a transformative step for rural employment, while the Congress views it as an attack on its decades-long legacy of social welfare.
BJP’s Perspective: Empowering the Poor with VB-G RAM G Bill
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan addressed the Lok Sabha, pitching the VB-G RAM G Bill as a flagship initiative to empower rural India. The government claims that the new legislation will make job guarantee schemes more efficient, corruption-free, and results-oriented compared to MGNREGA.
According to BJP leaders, MGNREGA, introduced under the UPA government, had earned the Congress considerable political capital. The BJP argues that by replacing it with VB-G RAM G, the government is not only continuing the rural employment agenda but also modernizing the scheme to meet current economic and demographic realities.
Chouhan stated, “The VB-G RAM G Bill is our commitment to the rural poor, providing sustainable employment while ensuring transparency and accountability. Unlike previous schemes, this Bill focuses on work delivery rather than mere paperwork.”
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Congress Reaction: Protests and Political Strategy
The Opposition staged an aggressive response in Parliament, with Congress MPs entering the well of the House, tearing papers, and creating chaotic scenes. Congress leaders, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, criticized the Bill for allegedly diluting the rural job guarantee scheme and removing Mahatma Gandhi’s name.
Priyanka Gandhi commented, “Anyone who reads the VB-G RAM G Bill carefully would know that this scheme will slowly be phased out, especially affecting states that need it the most.” The Congress Working Committee (CWC) is scheduled to meet on December 27 to strategize nationwide protests against the legislation.
Opposition MPs argued that the VB-G RAM G Bill bypassed proper parliamentary procedures, including the Standing Committee review. Congress whip in Lok Sabha, Manickam Tagore, criticized the government, stating, “The Bill was listed to avoid proper debate on urgent issues like air pollution in Delhi-NCR, which shows the government’s intent to rush the legislation.”
MGNREGA vs VB-G RAM G: Key Differences
The political clash is rooted in the perceived differences between MGNREGA and VB-G RAM G:
- MGNREGA: Introduced in 2005, guaranteed 100 days of wage employment to rural households, and became a hallmark of Congress’s social welfare agenda.
- VB-G RAM G: Aims to improve efficiency, ensure better accountability, and integrate modern technology for project execution and monitoring.
While BJP emphasizes modernization and outcome-based performance, Congress perceives it as a dilution of a scheme that historically empowered rural populations and especially women workers.
Political Implications Ahead of State Elections
The timing of the Bill’s passage carries significant political weight. The Congress sees VB-G RAM G as an opportunity to rally rural voters in upcoming assembly elections in four key states. Analysts suggest that issues directly impacting rural livelihoods and employment could prove more politically potent than traditional campaigns like “vote chori” or corruption allegations.
Opposition leaders believe the Bill could mobilize support from villages, women, and marginalized communities, positioning it as a central theme of their electoral strategy. A senior Congress leader commented, “This Bill gives us traction in regions where people’s livelihoods are directly affected. Unlike abstract political issues, employment schemes touch real lives.”
Parliamentary Chaos and Public Messaging
The Lok Sabha session was marked by high drama. Congress MPs from Kerala — Hibi Eden, Shafi Parambil, and Dean Kuriakose — climbed onto reporter tables, shouted slogans, and flung papers. Speaker Om Birla condemned the behavior, warning that Parliament was not a platform for theatrics.
BJP leaders called the disruption “goonda raj” and criticized Congress for framing the narrative around Mahatma Gandhi’s name rather than the substance of the Bill. Chouhan remarked, “This is not about names; it’s about effective work for the rural poor. The Modi government prioritizes action over symbolism.”
Rural Employment and Governance: What Changes?
Experts note that VB-G RAM G is intended to focus on implementation efficiency, monitoring mechanisms, and state-level adaptability. While MGNREGA provided universal coverage, its implementation often faced delays, mismanagement, and corruption allegations. VB-G RAM G promises:
- Improved project execution: Using digital tracking and monitoring tools.
- Outcome-based payments: Linking wages to work delivery.
- State-centric funding: Ensuring local governments manage resources more efficiently.
This transition aims to strike a balance between sustaining rural employment while ensuring fiscal responsibility and accountability.
National Debate: Efficiency vs Legacy
The VB-G RAM G Bill highlights a broader political and ideological debate: modernization vs preserving legacy programs. BJP frames the move as progressive governance, whereas Congress frames it as undermining its historic social welfare schemes.
The debate has resonated nationwide, with civil society organizations, economists, and media outlets weighing in. Some analysts argue that while MGNREGA was revolutionary in 2005, India’s rural economy and demographic realities have evolved, necessitating reforms. Others stress that sudden legislative changes without consensus could alienate the rural electorate.
End of a Legacy or Start of a New Era?
The passage of VB-G RAM G Bill signals a major shift in Indian rural employment policy. For BJP, it represents a chance to modernize governance and weaken Congress’s political advantage. For Congress, it is a rallying point to mobilize protests and consolidate support in rural India.
What is clear is that the future of Indian rural employment will now be defined by implementation efficiency, accountability, and direct engagement with citizens, rather than symbolic politics alone. Whether VB-G RAM G succeeds in achieving these objectives will determine if it becomes a new benchmark in rural welfare or if political contestation continues to dominate the narrative.
The coming months, including the planned protests by Congress and monitoring by state governments, will reveal whether VB-G RAM G can deliver on its promise or become another contentious chapter in Indian political history.
