The Union government’s proposal to scrap the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and replace it with a new law has triggered a fierce political debate, with opposition parties accusing the BJP of attempting to erase Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy. The proposed legislation, titled the Viksit Bharat Garib Kalyan Rozgar aur Azadiva Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025—or VB-GKRAJ—claims to align with the government’s long-term vision of a “Viksit Bharat by 2047”.

From MGNREGA to VB-GKRAJ: What’s Changing?

MGNREGA was introduced in 2005 by the United Progressive Alliance government under then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and renamed in 2009 to honour Mahatma Gandhi. The new bill drops Gandhi’s name altogether, a move that has become the most contentious aspect of the proposal.

According to the government, the new framework reflects changing rural realities and aims to modernise employment generation mechanisms in villages.

Government’s Defence: “Strengthening Rural Employment”

Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan defended the move, arguing that the programme needs to evolve after two decades.
“MGNREGA has provided reliable employment for the last 20 years. But rural India has changed, and we must strengthen the scheme to meet new challenges,” Chouhan said.

He maintained that the intent is reform, not dismantling, and insisted that employment guarantees would remain at the core of the new law.

Key Features of the New Bill

The proposed VB-GKRAJ Bill introduces several structural changes:

• Guaranteed work increased to 125 days per household annually, up from 100 days

• Job allocation through the Viksit Gram Panchayat framework

• Revised funding pattern: 60% Centre and 40% states; 90% central funding for special category states

• Relaxed norms for up to 60 days annually, as declared by states

• Weekly wage payments, replacing the current system

These changes, the government claims, will make the scheme more responsive and efficient.

Opposition Outrage Over Gandhi’s Name

Opposition parties have sharply criticised the omission of Mahatma Gandhi’s name. Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra called the move “baffling”, saying Gandhi is a global symbol of peace and justice, not just an Indian leader.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge accused the BJP-RSS of deliberately attempting to erase Gandhi’s legacy, particularly during the RSS’s centenary year. He pointed out what he called a contradiction—Prime Minister Narendra Modi paying homage to Gandhi overseas while removing his name from a landmark welfare law at home.

Calls for Parliamentary Scrutiny

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh demanded that the bill be referred to a parliamentary standing committee for detailed examination. Congress MP Saptagiri Ulaka alleged that the BJP has long been uncomfortable with MGNREGA’s rights-based structure.

CPI(M) leader M.A. Baby described the bill as an attempt to weaken the legal right to employment, while Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said frequent renaming of schemes reflects the ruling party’s political priorities rather than policy reform.

A Dissenting Voice Within Congress

Interestingly, senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor struck a different note, calling the intense backlash “unfortunate” and suggesting that the debate should focus more on the substance of the proposed changes rather than symbolism alone.

Protests Loom as Political Battle Intensifies

With opposition parties planning protests inside and outside Parliament, the proposed legislation is set to become a major flashpoint in the ongoing political session. Critics warn that MGNREGA’s core promise—a legal right to work with the Centre bearing responsibility for wages and unemployment allowance—could be diluted under the new framework.

As the bill moves forward, the battle over rural employment, welfare rights and Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy is expected to dominate national political discourse in the coming days.