Controversy Erupts as MNREGA Renamed to G-RAM-G: Congress Leaders Protest Removal of Mahatma Gandhi's Name

New Delhi:

The renaming controversy of the flagship MNREGA to "G Ram G" is "unfortunate," according to senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor. The Congress and several Opposition parties, including Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress, have taken a firm stance against the name change, setting the stage for further confrontations with the government during the ongoing winter session of parliament.

In his post on X, Tharoor stated, "The concept of Gram Swaraj and the ideal of Ram Rajya were never competing forces; they were the twin pillars of Gandhiji's consciousness".

"Replacing the Mahatma's name in a scheme for the rural poor ignores this profound symbiosis. His final breath was a testament to 'Ram'; let us not dishonour his legacy by creating a division where none existed," he further commented.

For followers confused about whether his objection was to the "controversy" or the "renaming," Tharoor clarified: "It's pretty clear that I am objecting to replacing the Mahatma's name. Read my tweet. (3rd sentence, in case you couldn't find it)".

The MNREGA — originally named after Mahatma Gandhi (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme) will now be called Viksit Bharat Guarantee For Rozgar And Ajeevika Mission (Grameen) — an acronym that incorporates Ram.

The scheme introduced by the UPA government was initially expected to be renamed the "Pujya Bapu Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme" — news which didn't cause any controversy. However, the bill presented in parliament today was titled Viksit Bharat Guarantee For Rozgar And Ajeevika Mission (Grameen), abbreviated as VB G RAM G.

What Congress Said

This change provoked strong reactions from the Congress, with party president Mallikarjun Kharge leading the opposition.

"Erasing Gandhi's name on the centenary of the Sangh shows how hollow and hypocritical those are who, like Modi ji, offer flowers to Bapu on foreign soil," Kharge posted on X.

"The government that recoils from the rights of the poor is the one that attacks MGNREGA. The Congress Party will strongly oppose in Parliament and on the streets any such decision of this arrogant regime that is against the poor and workers," he added.

Congress's Priyanka Gandhi Vadra questioned the rationale behind "removing Mahatma Gandhi's name".

"He is considered the biggest Indian leader. Whenever such a name changes, a lot of expenditure happens in stationery and paperwork," she said. "I don't understand what the objective is. The Parliament is not functioning. We are not discussing pressing issues; time and public money are being wasted," she added.

Congress MP Ranjeet Ranjan said the BJP previously had issues with Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. "Now the country is watching that they have a problem with Bapu. You ensure timely payments to states under MGNREGA. You raise 100 to 150 days, and improve the scheme. It is a shame that the government is focused on just changing names," she told NDTV.

"Union govt's plan to rename MGNREGA. Removing Mahatma Gandhi's name. This is an insult to Gandhiji. But then are you surprised! These are the same people who hero worshipped the man who killed Mahatma Gandhi. They want to insult Gandhiji. We will never allow this to happen," Trinamool's Derek O'Brien posted on X.

The New Scheme

The MGNREGA is a centrally sponsored scheme in which the Centre bears 100 per cent of the wages of unskilled labour. States bear a fraction of the expenses.

The new Bill proposes that the Centre and most states will share the expenses in a 60:40 ratio. For the northeastern and Himalayan states the ratio will be 90:10 and 100 per cent for Union territories.