Political Debate Intensifies Over Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Act

The political debate surrounding the newly enacted Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act has escalated. Akhilesh Mishra, CEO of BlueKraft Digital Foundation, has responded to Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh’s repost of Sonia Gandhi’s article criticizing the Centre for replacing MGNREGA with the new Act. Mishra highlighted that the employment guarantee has been expanded, not abolished, under the VB-G RAM G Act. He emphasized that the Act strengthens the statutory commitment, increasing the guarantee from 100 to 125 days. Mishra argued that the reform focuses on enhancing the implementation framework while maintaining the principle of employment security. He pointed out systemic failures and corruption within MGNREGA, citing instances of misappropriated funds and administrative collapses in various states. Mishra also noted a decline in demand for MGNREGA work due to improved alternatives available, emphasizing the need to align public employment with development priorities. The Act prioritizes areas such as water security, rural infrastructure, livelihood-linked assets, and climate-resilience works. Mishra highlighted the decentralization of planning, now integrated with technology, and the reduction of leakages through digital and biometric payments. Addressing criticism of the provision limiting continuous workdays, Mishra clarified that workers still receive 125 days of work annually. He attributed Congress’ opposition to ideological differences, stating that the Modi Government aims to transition from wage survival to rural prosperity. The reform, according to Mishra, combines guarantee with growth, rights with accountability, and work with assets, reflecting the necessity for change to drive productive rural development.