As opposition parties, including the Congress, prepare for nationwide protests, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched a strong defense of the recently introduced Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act. He dismissed criticism from the opposition as unfounded and politically driven. Chouhan emphasized that the new law aims to empower both laborers and villages under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.
Chouhan addressed concerns about the replacement of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA), accusing the Congress and other parties of spreading misinformation about rural employment and laborers’ rights. He highlighted the transparency measures in the new law to ensure that benefits reach laborers directly, contrasting it with the alleged corruption in the previous MNREGA regime. The Union Minister stressed that the new Act guarantees 125 days of employment per rural household, up from the previous 100 days, with a statutory obligation to provide work on demand.
The Union Minister emphasized the decentralization aspect of the new law, stating that decisions will be made at the village level rather than being imposed from above. He underscored the enhanced roles of Gram Sabha and Panchayats in planning, prioritization, approval, monitoring, and social audits. Chouhan also pointed out the focus on women’s participation, self-help groups, and community engagement, along with the use of digital tools for transparency and grievance redressal.
Describing the VB-G RAM G Act as grounded in Gandhian principles of Gram Swaraj and self-reliance, Chouhan emphasized that it provides dignified rights to timely work, fair wages, safe conditions, transparent payments, and sustainable livelihoods. He positioned the Act as a forward-looking framework for a developed India, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for sanitation and rural progress.
