The Congress on Wednesday intensified its criticism of the Centre’s newly introduced Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act, with senior party leader Jairam Ramesh describing the legislation as “Rozgar Adhikar chori”. The Congress alleged that the new law weakens the rights-based framework of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and reduces the role of local governance bodies. Ramesh, a senior Congress leader, shared an article written by former Jammu and Kashmir finance minister Haseeb Drabu on social media platform X and claimed that the VB-G RAM G Act dismantles key features of MGNREGA.

He alleged that the new legislation replaces a system based on a legal guarantee of employment with a more centralised structure controlled by the Centre. “VB G RAM G is really Rozgar Adhikar chori,” Ramesh said, accusing the government of taking away a constitutional right to work that had strengthened the role of gram panchayats. He further claimed that the new framework places an excessive financial burden on state governments, affecting their ability to implement rural employment programmes effectively.  The Congress leader also alleged that the VB-G RAM G Act introduces technology-driven mechanisms that could create barriers for beneficiaries instead of improving access.

He claimed that digital systems under the new law were designed “not to facilitate but to exclude” people seeking employment support in rural areas. Ramesh argued that the new legislation differs significantly from MGNREGA, which provides a demand-driven employment guarantee for rural households. According to him, unlike the earlier scheme, VB-G RAM G does not ensure employment opportunities throughout the year, potentially limiting the support available to rural workers dependent on wage employment.

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The Congress has maintained that MGNREGA played a crucial role in providing livelihood security to millions of rural workers by empowering gram panchayats and ensuring a legal mechanism for demanding work. The party has accused the Centre of weakening the social security framework established under the previous programme. The government, however, has defended the VB-G RAM G Act as a step towards strengthening rural development and aligning employment initiatives with the broader vision of a developed India.

The new legislation is aimed at improving livelihood opportunities and integrating technology into rural employment programmes, according to its supporters. The political dispute over the Act comes amid a broader debate between the Centre and opposition parties over rural welfare policies, funding responsibilities and the future of employment guarantee programmes. While the Congress has described the move as an attack on workers’ rights, the government has argued that the new framework will bring greater efficiency, transparency and targeted benefits to rural communities.

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