VB–G RAM G Bill, 2025 Seeking to Overhaul Rural Employment Scheme Introduced in Lok Sabha Amid Opposition Protests

The Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), abbreviated as VB–G RAM G Bill, 2025, was introduced on Tuesday in the Lok Sabha amidst strong opposition protests. The bill, hyped as a major legislative effort to revamp India’s rural employment framework, was moved for introduction by Union Minister of Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

The VB–G RAM G Bill aims to overhaul and strengthen the existing Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), a landmark social welfare scheme that guarantees wage employment to rural households. Under the new Bill, rural families will be entitled to 125 days of wage employment annually. The legislation focuses on empowerment, development, and the convergence and saturation of various government schemes to maximise their impact. Notably, the Bill proposes a change in the funding structure, requiring states to bear 40 per cent of the programme’s costs.

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One of the Bill’s central features is the formulation of a ‘Vikasit Gram Panchayat Plan’ by Gram Panchayats, based on the principles of convergence and saturation of multiple schemes. This initiative will be coordinated through the PM Gati Shakti programme to accelerate infrastructure development and improve service delivery at the village level.

The Bill also envisions establishing an integrated ‘Vikasit Bharat National Rural Infrastructure Stack’ to oversee and manage rural public works efficiently. It emphasises key areas such as water security, essential rural infrastructure, livelihood generation, and disaster-resilient projects. To support agricultural productivity, special provisions are included to ensure the availability of farm labour during peak farming seasons.

Transparency and accountability are core to the Bill’s framework, with mandates for weekly public disclosures and robust social audits to monitor implementation. The governance model will rely heavily on digital public infrastructure to ensure efficient, high-integrity delivery of services.

However, the Bill has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties, who have collectively demanded that it be referred to a Standing Committee of Parliament for detailed scrutiny, citing the sensitive nature of reforms to a programme that is a vital social safety net for millions of rural Indians. Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh emphasised the need for comprehensive examination, while senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi condemned the Bill, stating it weakens the law and should be withdrawn. “No law should be passed based on someone’s whim, ambition and prejudice,” she asserted.

The Congress also staged a protest within the Parliament premises, holding up photographs of Mahatma Gandhi, in whose name the existing MGNREGA scheme was established.

The introduction of the VB–G RAM G Bill comes after an earlier attempt on Monday to introduce it in the supplementary business of the Lok Sabha was deferred, underscoring the political sensitivity and potential for intense debate. By relisting and proceeding with the Bill’s introduction, the government has signalled its readiness to confront parliamentary discussion, even as the opposition remains united in calling for a thorough review before any legislative action.

Given its significant implications for rural employment and livelihoods, the Bill is poised to be a central issue in the ongoing session.