Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday strongly criticised the Union government over its reported plan to introduce a new Bill that would replace the existing Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). He described the move as a direct affront to the values and ideals associated with Mahatma Gandhi, arguing that the proposed change undermines both Gandhian principles and the rights of India’s rural poor.
Rahul Gandhi’s remarks came in response to the Centre’s proposal to repeal MGNREGA, the flagship rural employment scheme that guarantees 100 days of wage employment each year to rural households. The government is preparing to introduce a new legislation titled the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025, also referred to as VB-G RAM G. The announcement of this proposed Bill has sparked strong opposition reactions, with several Opposition parties expressing concern over its potential impact on rural livelihoods.
In a detailed post on X, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi harboured a “deep dislike” for two things in particular: the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi and policies that safeguard the rights and welfare of the poor. He claimed that the government’s attempt to replace MGNREGA reflected this attitude.
Describing MGNREGA as a cornerstone of Gandhian thought, Rahul Gandhi said the scheme represents Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of Gram Swaraj, or village self-reliance. He pointed out that the programme has served as a critical support system for millions of rural Indians over the years and proved especially vital during the Covid-19 pandemic, when it functioned as an economic safety net for families who lost other sources of income.
Rahul Gandhi further alleged that the Narendra Modi-led NDA government has been consistently working to weaken the rural employment guarantee scheme over the past decade. According to him, the existence of a legally guaranteed employment programme has always been a source of discomfort for the Prime Minister. He claimed that successive policy decisions, budgetary constraints, and administrative changes were aimed at diluting MGNREGA, and that the proposed repeal marks the final step in dismantling it altogether.
He also criticised the structure of the proposed new scheme, alleging that it would centralise control over rural employment. Rahul Gandhi said that under the new framework, decisions related to budgets, implementation rules, and schemes would be dictated by the Centre, while state governments would be required to bear 40 per cent of the costs. He further warned that once allocated funds are exhausted, or during peak agricultural seasons, rural workers could be denied employment for extended periods, leaving families without income security.
Calling the proposed legislation “anti-people,” Rahul Gandhi said the Opposition would resist it both on the streets and inside Parliament. He described the Bill as an insult to Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals and accused the Modi government of first damaging the future of India’s youth through high unemployment and now targeting the livelihoods of poor rural families. He asserted that the Congress and other Opposition parties would oppose the Bill “from sadak to sansad.”
Under the government’s proposal, MGNREGA would be replaced by the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), which promises up to 125 days of wage employment per year, compared to the current 100 days. The new scheme would operate under a 60:40 funding model between the Centre and the states. If passed, the Bill would formally repeal the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act of 2005.
MGNREGA was originally enacted in 2005 by the then United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. In 2009, the scheme was renamed MGNREGA to honour Mahatma Gandhi, with the change taking effect on October 2, his birth anniversary.
