MGNREGA to RAM G — how the government kills a right, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• The Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-GRAM G) Bill, 2025 aims to repeal the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
• VB-GRAM G shifts funding to a 60:40 contribution ratio between the Centre and most states, increasing the financial burden on states.
• The new bill replaces the demand-driven nature of MGNREGA with pre-fixed allocations and expenditure ceilings determined by the Centre.
• VB-GRAM G mandates the use of GIS-based tools and other digital infrastructure for project planning, potentially excluding workers due to technological failures.
• The bill requires states to notify a 60-day period annually with no work, potentially forcing laborers into private agricultural work.
• The Central Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Council under VB-GRAM G omits reservation criteria for women, SCs, STs, OBCs, and minorities.

Detailed Insights:

• The VB-GRAM G Bill alters the financial structure of the rural employment guarantee scheme, requiring states to contribute a larger share, estimated at over Rs 50,000 crore collectively.
• Under VB-GRAM G, the central government will determine state-wise allocations based on "objective parameters," potentially limiting states' ability to respond to local employment demands.
• The increased emphasis on technology in project planning under VB-GRAM G may lead to the exclusion of rural workers who lack digital literacy or access to technology.
• The mandated 60-day no-work period could force laborers into private agricultural jobs, potentially reducing their wages and autonomy.
• The omission of reservation criteria in the Central Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Council raises concerns about the representation of marginalized groups in the program's governance.
• While the government claims to increase guaranteed employment to 125 days, the bill introduces measures that could exclude significant portions of rural households.

Key Concepts Involved:

• MGNREGA: A rights-based Indian labor law and social security measure that aims to guarantee 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.
• Gram Panchayat: A village-level local self-government institution in India responsible for planning and implementing development programs.
• GIS (Geographic Information System): A system designed to capture, store, analyze, and manage spatial or geographic data.