VBG Ramji Bill: Opposition Registers Strong Objection to Introduction of VBG Ramji Bill in Parliament

The opposition has strongly opposed the introduction of the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajivika Mission (Grameen), also known as the VBG Ramji Bill, in Parliament. Raising objections under Rule 72, opposition members said the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) has been a transformative law for rural India over the past decade, providing legal employment guarantees to the poorest citizens and strengthening the rural economy. They criticized the proposed dilution of states’ powers to determine work based on local needs and objected to reducing the Centre’s funding share from 90 percent to 60 percent, warning it would burden states already facing financial stress. The opposition also questioned the removal of Mahatma Gandhi’s name and alleged increased central control, calling the bill against the spirit of the Constitution and workers’ rights.