Punjab govt rolls out VB-G RAM G to strengthen rural employment guarantee
The Minister said that while MGNREGA remained operational till June 30, 2026, the VB G RAM G scheme came into effect from July 1.
The Minister said that while MGNREGA remained operational till June 30, 2026, the VB G RAM G scheme came into effect from July 1.
A major change in the rural employment system has come into effect across Uttar Pradesh and the rest of the country with the Government of India officially replacing the MGNREGA with the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Gramin (VB-G RAM G) Act.
The Jharkhand government urged the Centre to release around Rs 900 crore pending under the material component of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and raise the daily wage rate for workers to Rs 433, flagging the impact of delayed payments and rising rural distress.
The Congress on Monday intensified its attack on the Centre over the proposed rollout of the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025, accusing the Narendra Modi government of attempting to centralise authority and dilute the legal protections available to rural workers under MGNREGA.
Jharkhand on Saturday raised concerns over pending MGNREGA dues, low wage rates and the proposed funding pattern under the Centre’s new rural scheme during a virtual meeting chaired by Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
Drawing a comparison between the two frameworks, Bhattacharya pointed out that the proposed Bill shifts a greater share of responsibility to the states, while reducing the Centre’s financial and administrative accountability
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said that her party will protest against the VB-G-RAM-G Bill, claiming it will end the MGNREGA scheme in the coming months.
Opposition MPs strongly opposed the bill that seeks to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). While raising slogans, the Opposition MPs also tore apart copies of the bill and flung bits of paper in the lower house.
The NDA on Thursday defended the introduction of the Viksit Bharat G RAM G Bill, saying it would benefit those seeking employment under the scheme, even as the Opposition remained unconvinced and strongly criticised the Centre for removing the name of Mahatma Gandhi from the legislation.
The joint front—comprising the CPI(M), CPI, CPI(ML) Liberation, RSP, and All India Forward Bloc—released a scathing statement on Wednesday, labeling the new legislation a deliberate attempt to dismantle India’s rural safety net.
