New Delhi – Parliament passed the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill on Thursday, marking a significant shift in India’s rural employment landscape. The VB-G RAM G Bill, which will replace the 20-year-old Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), was approved by the Rajya Sabha through a voice vote amid fierce opposition protests and walkouts that extended proceedings until midnight.
Key Features of the VB-G RAM G Bill
The VB-G RAM G Bill introduces substantial changes to India’s rural employment guarantee framework, most notably increasing the wage employment guarantee from 100 days to 125 days annually for unskilled workers. This 25-day enhancement represents the centerpiece of the government’s argument that the new legislation will provide better livelihood security to rural households compared to the existing MGNREGA framework.
Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan emphasized that the VB-G RAM G Bill was designed to address critical shortcomings in the old scheme while maintaining the core objective of providing employment opportunities to rural populations. The government has positioned this legislation as essential for achieving comprehensive village development and modernizing rural employment programs.
Parliament Proceedings and Opposition Resistance
The passage of the VB-G RAM G Bill was marked by intense parliamentary drama as opposition members staged walkouts in the Rajya Sabha, demanding withdrawal of the legislation. After the Lok Sabha cleared the bill earlier in the day, the Rajya Sabha session continued late into the night, with opposition parties raising slogans against the ruling NDA government and refusing to participate in the final vote.
Opposition members went beyond parliamentary protests, staging a dharna outside the Samvidhan Sadan in the Parliament complex to register their strong objections to the VB-G RAM G Bill. The coordinated opposition response reflected deep concerns about the implications of replacing a well-established employment guarantee scheme with new legislation.
Government’s Defense of VB-G RAM G Bill
Responding to opposition allegations and protests, Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan mounted a vigorous defense of the VB-G RAM G Bill, accusing the Congress party of “killing” the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi multiple times and using his name merely for political gains. Chouhan argued that during the United Progressive Alliance’s tenure, MGNREGA was plagued by widespread corruption that undermined its effectiveness.
The minister asserted that the VB-G RAM G Bill would bring much-needed transparency and accountability to rural employment programs. According to government representatives, the new framework is designed to empower gram panchayats and gram sabhas, giving local bodies greater control over implementation and resource allocation.
Enhanced Employment Guarantee Under VB-G RAM G Bill
The most significant enhancement in the VB-G RAM G Bill is the statutory wage employment guarantee of 125 days in every financial year for unskilled workers, compared to MGNREGA’s 100-day provision. This represents a 25 percent increase in guaranteed employment opportunities, which the government claims will significantly improve income security for rural households dependent on wage employment.
The VB-G RAM G Bill aims to provide comprehensive coverage while maintaining focus on creating productive assets in rural areas. The extended employment guarantee period is expected to offer rural workers greater financial stability throughout the year, particularly during agricultural off-seasons when alternative income sources are limited.
Transparency and Accountability Mechanisms
The government has emphasized that the VB-G RAM G Bill incorporates robust mechanisms for transparency and accountability that were allegedly lacking in MGNREGA’s implementation. While specific details of these mechanisms were not elaborated during the parliamentary debate, officials have indicated that the new framework will leverage technology and strengthen monitoring systems to reduce corruption and ensure proper utilization of funds.
The VB-G RAM G Bill’s focus on empowering gram panchayats and sabhas is intended to bring decision-making closer to beneficiaries, potentially improving program responsiveness to local needs and reducing bureaucratic delays that often plagued MGNREGA implementation.
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Opposition Concerns and Political Implications
Despite the government’s assurances, opposition parties have expressed serious reservations about the VB-G RAM G Bill, leading to their dramatic walkout from parliamentary proceedings. While specific opposition concerns were not detailed in the legislative debate, the intensity of protests suggests fundamental disagreements about the bill’s approach to rural employment and concerns about potential dilution of employment guarantees.
The political standoff over the VB-G RAM G Bill reflects broader tensions between the government and opposition over economic policy and rural welfare programs. The opposition’s decision to stage a dharna outside Samvidhan Sadan demonstrates their determination to highlight what they perceive as problematic aspects of the legislation.
Looking Forward: Implementation Challenges
As the VB-G RAM G Bill becomes law, the focus will shift to implementation challenges. Successfully transitioning from MGNREGA to the new framework will require careful planning, adequate resource allocation, and effective coordination between central and state governments. Minister Chouhan’s assertion that the bill will contribute to comprehensive village development will be tested through actual implementation outcomes in coming months.
The success of the VB-G RAM G Bill will ultimately depend on whether it can deliver on promises of enhanced employment opportunities, reduced corruption, and improved rural livelihoods while addressing the concerns raised by opposition parties and rural employment activists.
