Activists push back against new rural jobs bill
A big coalition of rights groups is speaking out against the new Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025, which aims to replace the well-known MNREGA scheme.
Introduced in Parliament on December 16, the Bill promises 125 workdays per rural household and brings in changes like biometric payments and GPS tracking.
But many activists say it actually rolls back key protections for workers that were guaranteed under the old law.
Why are people worried?
Critics argue this new Bill could make life tougher for rural workers—especially women and Adivasi communities—by deleting millions of job cards and shifting more financial responsibility onto states.
There's also concern that replacing local social audits with central monitoring could reduce transparency.
Groups are urging Parliament to take a closer look before making any big changes, warning that the provisions could really hurt vulnerable workers.