The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Monday strongly opposed the Union government’s move to introduce the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025 (VB-GRAMG Bill), which seeks to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
File Photo: IANS
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Monday strongly opposed the Union government’s move to introduce the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025 (VB-GRAMG Bill), which seeks to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
In a statement, the CPI(M) said the proposed Bill “completely negates the basic character of the MNREGA, which is a universal demand-driven law providing a limited right to work”. The party claimed that the government’s claim of increasing guaranteed employment from 100 to 125 days is “merely cosmetic”.
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The CPI(M) raised concerns over several provisions of the Bill, including the shift in funding pattern, which reduces the Centre’s responsibility for wage payments from 100% to a 60:40 sharing arrangement for major states. The party also objected to the provision allowing governments to suspend employment for up to 60 days during peak agricultural seasons, saying it would deny work to rural households when they need it most.
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“CPI(M) demands that the VB-GRAMG Bill be withdrawn immediately. The Union government must instead engage in consultations with political parties, trade unions and organisations of the rural poor to strengthen MGNREGA and ensure its effective implementation as a universal and rights-based employment guarantee,” said Muralidharan, a central committee member of CPI(M).
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