Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj and Kalaburagi district in-charge Priyank Kharge. File
| Photo Credit: Arun Kulkarni
Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge on Monday (December 22, 2025) strongly criticised the Union Government’s Viksit Bharat—Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act 2025 that replaced MGNREGA, claiming that changes in the new legislation weaken and undermine the previous act’s core promise as a rights-based rural employment programme.
In a post on social media platform ‘X’ (formerly Twitter), Priyank Kharge said, “The act would gradually make the scheme untenable by transforming it from a demand-driven legal entitlement into a supply-driven arrangement, thereby stripping citizens of their right to demand work.
He observed that while the Centre would retain most decision-making powers, States would be forced to shoulder the bulk of the financial and administrative burden.
“Much has been spoken about the VB-G RAM G Bill. But beyond everything else, these changes will slowly make the scheme untenable and eventually kill the idea of a rights-based rural employment guarantee,” Priyank Kharge, son of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, said in his post.
The Minister, who holds Rural Development, Panchayat Raj, and Information Technology and Bio-technology portfolio, further contended that the proposed changes amounted to a dilution of fiscal federalism, particularly at a time when States are already facing shrinking financial resources.
He pointed out that tax devolution to States had fallen from 34% to 31%, far below the 42% recommended by the Finance Commission, even as centrally sponsored schemes were becoming increasingly restrictive.
By centralising powers and curbing local planning and decentralised governance, the act would weaken the 73rd Constitutional Amendment, which grants constitutional status to Panchayati Raj Institutions, Mr. Priyank Kharge warned.
According to him, “Such centralisation would erode the role of local bodies that are critical to the effective implementation of MGNREGA on the ground.”
Questioning the Union Government’s rationale, the Karnataka Minister asked how the legislation could be termed a reform when it failed to meaningfully strengthen the scheme for rural workers who depend on it for livelihood security.
He maintained that reducing a legal right to work into what he described as a ‘token centrally sponsored scheme’ would defeat the very purpose of MGNREGA. Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday (December 22, 2025) slammed the Centre for doing away with MGNREGA.
Mr. Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that Mr. Modi is purposely destroying that Act as he wants to make poor villagers and farm labourers slaves of rich people. “Therefore, we fought for the retention of the original MGNREGA, and whatever provisions are there (in the original Act) should be retained. I condemn the new Act. It is only helping the government,” the Congress chief said.
The parliament, on December 18, passed the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G Bill), and President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday (December 22, 2025) gave her assent to the Bill and made it an Act. This Act replaces the 20-year-old Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and guarantees 125 days of rural wage employment every year.
Published – December 22, 2025 12:10 pm IST
