New Delhi

Congress leader Supriya Shrinate on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the newly enacted VB-G RAM-G Bill, 2025, which replaces the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), 2005, alleging that the legislation removes Mahatma Gandhi’s name and does away with the assurance of guaranteed employment for rural households.

Speaking to ANI, Shrinate said the Congress strongly objects to the removal of Mahatma Gandhi’s name from a landmark rural employment programme. She alleged that the government has effectively dismantled a major welfare scheme that provided a statutory guarantee of employment. According to her, the new law fails to ensure assured work for those who need it the most.

She also took exception to the nomenclature and acronym used for the Bill. “This legislation neither carries Mahatma Gandhi’s name nor does it truly uphold the values it claims to represent. Lord Ram is a deeply revered figure, a symbol of faith and moral values for millions. Reducing his name to an acronym—R for Rojgar, A for Ajeevika and M for Mission—is inappropriate and disrespectful,” Shrinate said, adding that such an approach was unacceptable.

Warning of strong political resistance, the Congress leader said her party would oppose the new law both inside and outside Parliament. She claimed that in the coming days, large numbers of people would take to the streets to protest what she described as an erosion of employment rights.

The remarks come after Parliament, during the recently concluded Winter Session, passed the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM-G) Bill, 2025. The Rajya Sabha cleared the Bill shortly after it was approved by the Lok Sabha.

Under the provisions of the new legislation, rural households are entitled to up to 125 days of wage employment annually, an increase from the earlier limit of 100 days, for adult members willing to perform unskilled manual labour.

Section 22 of the Bill outlines the cost-sharing arrangement between the Centre and the states, fixing it at 60:40. For North Eastern states, Himalayan states, and certain Union Territories—including Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir—the funding ratio will be 90:10.

READ MORE: Young bride Mrs Yasim taught me differences can be celebrated

Additionally, Section 6 empowers state governments to pre-notify up to 60 days in a financial year during peak agricultural periods such as sowing and harvesting, when work under the scheme may be restricted.