The Lok Sabha on Thursday passed the VB-G RAM G Bill—short for Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Employment and Livelihood Mission (Rural)—amid intense disruptions and protests by opposition members. The Bill was cleared through a voice vote after Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan replied to the debate in the House.
The proposed legislation is set to replace the two-decade-old Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) with a new framework aimed at employment and livelihood generation in rural India. Once the Bill was passed, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla adjourned the House at 1:07 pm until 11 am on Friday.
Opposition Allegations and Protests
The opposition strongly opposed the Bill, accusing the government of diluting the spirit of MGNREGA and disrespecting Mahatma Gandhi by removing his name from the flagship rural employment law. During the discussion, opposition MPs tore papers, raised slogans, and attempted to disrupt proceedings. They also staged a protest march within the Parliament complex, demanding that the Bill be withdrawn.
Government’s Defence
Defending the move, Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that Mahatma Gandhi’s name was added to NREGA in 2009 with electoral considerations in mind. Addressing the Lok Sabha, he maintained that the new Bill focuses on strengthening rural employment delivery and aligning it with the broader vision of a “Viksit Bharat” (Developed India).
Despite the uproar, the government pushed the Bill through, setting the stage for a significant overhaul of India’s rural employment guarantee framework. The legislation is expected to trigger further political debate as it moves to the next stage of parliamentary scrutiny.
