New Delhi: The Lok Sabha on Thursday passed the G-RAM G Bill, which seeks to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), following a sharp rebuttal by Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan during a heated debate in the House.
Participating in the discussion, Chouhan criticised the previous government’s decision to rename the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) after Mahatma Gandhi, alleging that the move was politically motivated. He claimed that Mahatma Gandhi’s name was added to the scheme with an eye on the 2009 general elections, rather than for genuine policy reasons.
“The original NREGA was not conceived with Mahatma Gandhi’s name. It was added later for electoral gains,” Chouhan said, triggering strong reactions from opposition benches.
The Minister defended the new G-RAM G Bill, stating that it aims to reform rural employment delivery by focusing on efficiency, transparency and asset creation, while addressing loopholes that had emerged in the existing MGNREGA framework over the years.
Opposition members, however, strongly objected to both the remarks and the proposed legislation, arguing that MGNREGA has been a lifeline for millions of rural households and that replacing it could undermine employment security in rural India. Several MPs accused the government of attempting to dilute a rights-based welfare scheme.
Despite the protests, the Bill was passed by voice vote, marking a significant shift in the Centre’s approach to rural employment policy. The government maintained that the new legislation would ensure better implementation, reduce corruption and align rural employment programmes with current economic realities.
The passage of the G-RAM G Bill is expected to spark further political debate, with opposition parties indicating that they may challenge the move both inside and outside Parliament.