VB G RAM G Bill: India’s Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan defending the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill, 2025, has asserted that the Congress party “deliberately” added the name of Mahatma Gandhi to National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) “with an eye on the 2009 elections.”
The Minister said the name of the scheme was initially NREGA. Later, Congress thought it would be good to “exploit” the name of Mahatma Gandhi for 2009 general elections.
Chouhan went on to remark that Congress killed ideals of Mahatma Gandhi. The Minister added the NDA ensures that the legacy of Gandhi lives through pucca houses built under the PM Awas Yojna and welfare schemes such as Ujjwala yojana, Swachh Bharat Mission and Ayushman Bharat.
Chouhan also countered the criticism of Priyanka Gandhi that NDA keeps renaming several welfare programs named after Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi.
VB G RAM G Bill Would Now Be A Reality
The VB G RAM G Bill was passed on Thursday in a stormy session of Parliament. The Congress party accused the ruling NDA government of insulting the Father of Nation while diluting the provisions of MGNREGA.
After the bill was passed, opposition lawmakers tore copies of the bill and hurled them toward the Speaker’s chair. Thereafter, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla adjourned the proceedings for the day after the passage of the bill.
What’s the Difference Between VB G RAM G Bill and MGNREGA?
MGNREGA provided a statutory guarantee of 100 days of wage employment every year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer for unskilled, manual work.
The VB G RAM G Bill provides a statutory guarantee of 125 days of wage employment every year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer for unskilled, manual work.