Former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi has said that the Narendra Modi government is dismantling the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act to make way for the newly approved G RAM G law. She argues that the transition marks a major shift from a rights-based employment guarantee to a discretionary programme that could weaken rural incomes and job security. According to her, the change may affect millions who rely on the scheme for seasonal work, wages and protection against distress migration.
Gandhi expressed concern that the core structure of the original programme has been altered. She said that employment guarantees have been replaced by fixed budget caps set by the Union government, while states have been handed a higher financial burden. She believes this shift could discourage states from implementing the new model, especially those already facing resource limitations. Her comments follow the passage of the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Employment and Livelihood Mission (Rural) Bill in Parliament, cleared amid protests and walkouts by the Opposition.
Gandhi pointed out that the new framework limits year-round work, introduces no-work days during peak agricultural seasons, and reduces decentralised power by minimising the role of panchayats and gram sabhas. She said that previous issues such as delayed payments and technological barriers had already made access to work difficult. With the introduction of a centralised planning system, she fears rural workers may lose both autonomy and opportunity.
She also linked the development to a broader trend of reducing the scope of rights-based laws. According to her, MGNREGA played a key role in strengthening rural wages, supporting local self-governance and providing relief during the pandemic. She said its dilution could lead to long-term economic and social consequences for rural communities. The government maintains that the new scheme is designed to improve efficiency and targeting, while the Congress has said it will continue to challenge the legislation.
