Shivraj Chouhan Hits Out at Congress Over MGNREGA Repeal, Defends New G RAM G Act

Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched a scathing attack on the Congress, accusing the party of misleading the nation on the Viksit Bharat Gram Act (VB G RAM G).

At a presser in New Delhi on Monday, the Minister said, "Congress has completely abandoned its own ideas, ideology and stated ideals, and stands disconnected from the people of the country. The party has nothing to do with development or genuine welfare of the poor." He also accused the party of repeatedly using misinformation and political deception.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Sunday wrote to gram pradhans, ex-gram pradhans, Rojgar Sevaks and MGNREGA workers highlighting that Centre will "destroy the soul" of MGNREGA through the revised scheme.

"Twenty years ago, Manmohan Singh's government brought life to the constitutional right to work by enacting the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. Since then, MGNREGA has generated 180 crore days of work, created almost 10 crore assets like village tanks and roads, and strengthened the panchayati raj system by empowering Gram Panchayats to decide village-level projects. During crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, it was the lifeline of the rural Indian economy," the letter reads.

Countering the letter Minister states, "It is being said that the soul of MNREGA has been destroyed, while the truth is that the Congress only gave rights on paper. Such clauses were included in the unemployment allowance that no one could benefit from it. We removed those unjust provisions."

"We spent nearly 9 lakh crore on MNREGA, and when it seemed that the targets were not being met, we brought in the 'G Ram Ji' scheme for a developed India and developed villages" Chouhan told media.

Parliament repealed MGNREGA, enacted in 2005, and replaced it with a new G RAM G, marking a major overhaul of India’s rural employment framework. Government has emphasisd robust features of transparency and accountability in G RAM G, which it said, lacked in MNREGA.

The bill was passed in the Lok Sabha amid strong opposition protests that led to repeated disruptions of proceedings and eventually forced an adjournment of the House. Opposition members objected to the repeal of MGNREGA, describing it as the dismantling of a key social welfare legislation.

The new law provides a statutory guarantee of 125 days of wage employment per financial year for rural households willing to undertake unskilled manual work. It replaces the employment assurance previously provided under MGNREGA, which guaranteed 100 days of work.