Uproar in joint sitting over proposed law set to replace MGNREGA
New Delhi, January 28:
President Droupadi Murmu’s reference to the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act during her address to the joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament on Wednesday triggered sharp protests from opposition parties, who raised slogans demanding the rollback of the legislation.
While outlining the government’s legislative and policy agenda, the President said the VB-G RAM G Act would guarantee 125 days of work, curb corruption and leakages, and provide fresh momentum to rural development. Her remarks were welcomed by members of the treasury benches with desk-thumping, even as opposition MPs stood up in protest, raising slogans of “vapas lo” (roll back the Act).
The sloganeering forced President Murmu to briefly pause her address as opposition members continued their protest inside the House.
The VB-G RAM G Act is set to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), a move that has drawn strong opposition from several parties. Opposition leaders argue that the new law dilutes the rights-based framework of MGNREGA and undermines the statutory right to work guaranteed under the existing legislation.
They have demanded the complete withdrawal of the VB-G RAM G Act and the restoration of MGNREGA in its original form, with emphasis on the right to employment and the authority of panchayats in implementing rural employment schemes.
The government, however, has maintained that the new Act will strengthen the rural employment guarantee system by improving transparency, reducing leakages and aligning employment generation with broader livelihood and development goals.
The issue is expected to dominate political and parliamentary debate in the coming days as opposition parties step up resistance to the proposed replacement of MGNREGA.
