VB-G RAM G vs MGNREGA: Shivraj Rejects Opposition Charges as Congress Launches Nationwide ‘MGNREGA Bachao’ Campaign

The political battle over rural employment intensified on Saturday, with Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan strongly countering the Congress’ criticism of the newly enacted Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act, even as the opposition party announced a nationwide agitation to “save” the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

Chouhan accused the Congress of spreading “confusion and misinformation” on rural employment, the role of Gram Panchayats and the rights of workers. Responding to the Congress’ decision to launch a countrywide campaign from January 5, he said the opposition’s protest was driven by politics rather than concern for rural workers. The minister asserted that the government has not diluted demand-driven employment, but has instead strengthened workers’ rights through the new law under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.

According to Chouhan, VB-G RAM G provides stronger legal safeguards than before, including a 125-day employment guarantee, mandatory unemployment allowance if work is not provided on time, and compensation for delayed wage payments. He said these provisions make the framework more robust and transparent compared to the earlier regime. The minister also alleged that MGNREGA suffered from corruption during the Congress’ tenure and claimed that attaching Mahatma Gandhi’s name to the scheme was done largely for political gain.

Rejecting claims that powers of Gram Sabhas and Gram Panchayats were being curtailed, Chouhan said their role has, in fact, been enhanced. He explained that local bodies will continue to identify and prioritise works, monitor quality, conduct social audits and ensure accountability. Women, self-help groups and community participation, he added, have been given greater emphasis, with grievance redressal mechanisms strengthened alongside digital monitoring—without undermining local decision-making.

Congress campaign from January 5
The Congress, however, struck a sharply different note. After a meeting of the Congress Working Committee, party president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi announced the launch of a “MGNREGA Bachao Abhiyan” from January 5. Kharge said the repeal of MGNREGA amounted to taking away a constitutional “Right to Work” and vowed to oppose the move through democratic means, taking the party’s message to villages across the country.

Rahul Gandhi accused Prime Minister Modi of “single-handedly destroying” MGNREGA, comparing the move to demonetisation and calling it an attack on states, the poor and India’s federal structure. He claimed that ending MGNREGA would weaken rural infrastructure, erode state powers and inflict severe damage on the rural economy, particularly affecting Adivasis, Dalits, OBCs, minorities and other vulnerable sections. In a post on social media, Gandhi alleged that the intent behind the change was to divert resources away from the poor.

The Congress leadership said the party would fight collectively for the dignity, employment security and timely wages of rural workers, insisting that Gram Sabha powers and demand-based employment must be protected.