Priyanka Gandhi Leads Opposition Against New Bill Replacing MGNREGA: Claims It Weakens Rural Employment Rights

Priyanka Gandhi led the protest against Centre's plan to replace MGNREGA

New Delhi:

Senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has launched a vigorous protest against the Centre's new Bill intended to replace the rural job guarantee scheme MGNREGS. She emphasized that the proposed legislation weakens the existing law and called for its withdrawal. The Wayanad MP also stated that legislation should not be enacted based on anyone's "whim, ambition and prejudice." In response, Congress members staged a demonstration on Parliament premises, displaying photographs of Mahatma Gandhi, after whom the MGNREGA is named.

In today's Lok Sabha session, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan requested permission to introduce the Viksit Bharat Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025, commonly referred to as the G Ram G Bill. This legislation aims to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act or MGNREGA.

Priyanka Gandhi voiced her opposition to the Bill under Rule 72(1) of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha. She stated, "I register my strong objection. MGNREGA has successfully provided livelihood to rural India and strengthened the rural economy for 20 years. This is such a revolutionary law that when it was introduced, all political parties in parliament supported it. It provides 100 days of employment annually to the poorest citizens in this country."

The MGNREGA was implemented in 2005 by the then UPA government and guarantees 100 days of paid employment yearly to every individual in rural areas. The scheme has been widely recognized as transformative for the rural economy over the past two decades.

Priyanka Gandhi highlighted that MGNREGA provides employment based on demand, with the Centre's funding for the scheme also being demand-driven. The new Bill, however, allows the Centre to predetermine fund allocation. She further noted that while MGNREGA empowered Gram Sabhas to assess work demand according to local conditions, the proposed Bill diminishes their role. "The right to employment is being weakened, and this contradicts our Constitution."

She pointed out that the Centre's contribution to the scheme's funding has been reduced to 60 percent for most states. "This will impact states' economies when they are already awaiting GST dues from the Centre," she remarked.

The Congress leader questioned the "craze" for renaming every scheme, noting that such changes incur costs. "Bills should not be passed hastily without discussion and without taking the advice of this House. This Bill must be withdrawn, and the government should propose a new one," she asserted. When someone from the treasury benches made a "family" comment, she responded, "Mahatma Gandhi is not from my family, but he is like a family member, and the entire country feels the same way."

Besides Priyanka Gandhi, numerous opposition leaders raised concerns about provisions in the new Bill, particularly the shift from demand-based to normative funding and the reduction in the Centre's contribution. Her party colleague Shashi Tharoor also opposed the Bill, calling it "immoral" to remove Mahatma Gandhi's name.

Government sources argue that the Bill aligns with the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision. Addressing criticism about the shift to normative funding, a source explained that this approach aligns with the budgeting model used for most Government of India schemes. "A demand-based model leads to unpredictable allocations and mismatched budgeting. Normative funding employs objective parameters, ensuring predictable, rational planning while still guaranteeing that every eligible worker receives employment or unemployment allowance," the source stated.

BJP leader and former Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi claimed that the Congress's issue is the Bill being named after Lord Ram. "They cannot tolerate the inclusion of Lord Ram's name, which is why they are creating such a fuss."