'Ready to fight black law...bulldozed MGNREGA': Sonia Gandhi
What's the story
Veteran Congress leader Sonia Gandhi has slammed the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government for "bulldozing" the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). She made these remarks after the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025, abbreviated as VB-G RAM G, was passed in Parliament. The VB-G RAM G Bill seeks to replace MGNREGA, The Centre says the new bill guarantees 125 days of wage employment annually, up from 100 days under MGNREGA.
Scheme criticism
Gandhi accuses government of changing MGNREGA's structure
Gandhi alleged that the Modi government has "ignored the interests of the unemployed, poor, and deprived in rural areas" over its 11-year rule. She claimed that MGNREGA was a lifeline during COVID-19 and accused the government of arbitrarily changing its structure without consultation. The new bill proposes joint funding between the Centre and states, unlike MGNREGA, which was centrally funded.
Bill modifications
New bill introduces changes to employment guarantee scheme
The VB-G RAM G Bill has several key changes. It increases guaranteed wage employment days from 100 to 125 and introduces a fund-sharing pattern of 60:40 between the Centre and the states. For North Eastern, Himalayan states, and UTs, including Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and J&K, the ratio is 90:10. A new provision allows a 60-day pause during peak agricultural seasons for sowing and harvesting.
Protest details
Opposition protests against new employment guarantee scheme
The bill also proposes a steeper penalty for violations, raising fines from ₹1,000 to ₹10,000. The Centre has allocated ₹95,000 crore for the new scheme. Despite opposition protests in Parliament, including MPs tearing copies of the bill and shouting slogans against the government, it was passed through a voice vote in the Lok Sabha.
Opposition strategy
Congress plans nationwide opposition to new employment scheme
The Congress party has accused the NDA government of insulting Mahatma Gandhi by withdrawing MGNREGA and diluting its provisions. According to a report by ANI, the party is set to hold a Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting next week, on December 27, to decide on its plan of opposing the VB-G RAM G Bill.