MK Stalin Urges PM Modi to Reconsider Viksit Bharat Rozgar Bill, Flags Threat to MGNREGA

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi against implementing the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025, which Parliament approved on Thursday. In a detailed letter, Stalin argued that the proposed alterations fundamentally undermine the rights-based framework of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). He emphasized that the five major changes would impose financial strains on states and jeopardize the livelihoods of rural workers across the nation.

While acknowledging certain positive aspects of the new bill, such as extending guaranteed employment to 125 days and exempting work during peak agricultural periods, Stalin recommended integrating these elements into the existing MGNREGA through amendments developed in consultation with state governments. He contended that the other provisions erode the scheme's foundational principles, exacerbate fiscal pressures on states, and compromise federal structures essential to effective governance.

A primary concern highlighted was the shift from MGNREGA's demand-driven approach to centrally determined state-wise allocations, which would cap overall expenditures and transfer any excess costs to states. For regions like Tamil Nadu, where environmental factors heighten reliance on the program, this could lead to reduced employment opportunities and wage disbursements, intensifying economic distress among rural populations.

Also Read: Stalin Criticises AIADMK Silence on VB-G RAM G Bill, Warns of Threat to Rural Poor

Stalin also criticized the revised cost-sharing model, which proposes a 60:40 split between the central and state governments for wages, materials, and administrative expenses, contrasting with MGNREGA's full central funding for unskilled wages and administration. Additionally, the bill's provision for a district-level cap of up to 60 days without work risks interrupting consistent livelihood support, especially in areas with diverse agricultural timelines.

Further objections included the central authority to designate implementation zones and merge plans with national digital systems, which diminish the role of gram panchayats in decentralized decision-making. The renaming of the scheme, Stalin noted, severs its connection to Mahatma Gandhi's ideals of village self-governance. He underscored Tamil Nadu's successful execution of MGNREGA since 2006, generating an average of 30 crore person-days annually and disbursing approximately Rs 12,000 crore in wages each year, with peaks reaching 40.87 crore person-days in 2023-24.

Also Read: Tamil Nadu to Fix Accountability After Student Dies in School Building Incident