Bill passed amid chaos in Lok Sabha New Delhi: The Lok Sabha on Thursday passed the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill,
2025 amid sustained protests by Opposition members, forcing repeated disruptions and the eventual adjournment of the House till Friday.
The legislation seeks to replace the 20-year-old Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and provides 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.
Proceedings were repeatedly interrupted as Opposition MPs raised slogans and objected to the repeal and renaming of MGNREGA, leading to a ruckus soon after the Bill was taken up for passage.
Centre defends new rural jobs law
Moving the Bill, Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the new legislation would strengthen employment security in villages and help realise Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of self-reliant rural communities. He said the VB-G RAM G Bill would ensure holistic development of villages, make them poverty-free and accelerate their growth.
The government has argued that the new framework is aimed at improving outcomes, expanding employment days and making rural development more efficient and accountable.
Opposition accuses Centre of erasing legacy
The Opposition mounted a sharp attack on the government, accusing it of undermining Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy by repealing MGNREGA. Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra said the Bill was destroying the idea of Ram Rajya “both in letter and spirit” by removing Gandhi’s name from the landmark law.
She accused the government of “dishonouring” Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore and alleged that the move reflected a deeper ideological intent. Taking a swipe at the ruling party, she said the Bill showed that the government believed in “Na kisi ka saath, na kisi ka vikas, na Rahim ka, na Ram ka”.
Moitra also said the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act of 2005 had transformed rural India by providing livelihood security to millions.
Congress flags federal and social concerns
Congress MP Jai Prakash termed the removal of Gandhi’s name “the biggest crime” and claimed the new law would impose additional financial burdens on states. He alleged that it would weaken the role of gram sabhas in deciding local works and described the Bill as “anti-poor” and “anti-Dalit”, accusing the government of adopting a pro-rich approach.
BJP hits back
Defending the Bill, BJP MP Brijmohan Agarwal said the previous Congress-led government had reduced MNREGA to a “dig the pit and cover the pit” scheme. He alleged that it failed to strengthen the rural economy and was plagued by corruption. Agarwal said the inclusion of “Ram” in the new law would help curb corruption.
According to the Bill, states will be required to frame schemes aligned with the new Act within six months of it coming into force.
