The political standoff over India’s rural employment framework has reached a fever pitch. On Monday, December 22, 2025, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi intensified their attack on the VB-G RAM-G Act, 2025, which effectively replaces the 20-year-old MGNREGA.
The Act, which was cleared by Parliament on December 18 and received President Droupadi Murmu’s assent on December 21, has been dubbed a “black law” and “anti-village” by the opposition.
Rahul Gandhi’s Charge: “Rationing” Livelihoods
Rahul Gandhi alleged that the new legislation is a tactical move to centralize power and strip rural workers of their bargaining leverage.
- The “Bulldozer” Allegation: “The Modi government has run a bulldozer over both MGNREGA and democracy. No public discourse, no discussion in Parliament, no consent from the states,” he wrote on X.
- Impact on Vulnerable Groups: Gandhi argued that by moving from a “demand-driven” to a “rationed” scheme, the government will inadvertently push out women, Dalits, Adivasis, and landless laborers.
- The Barter for Reform: He accused the PM of “selling slogans as reform” while actually weakening the last line of defense for the rural poor.
Sonia Gandhi’s Op-Ed: “The Death of Sarvodaya”
In a powerful editorial titled “The Bulldozed Demolition of MGNREGA” published in The Hindu, Sonia Gandhi described the repeal as a “collective moral failure.”
“The removal of the Mahatma’s name was only the tip of the iceberg. The very structure of MGNREGA, so integral to its impact, has been annihilated,” she wrote.
Key concerns raised by Sonia Gandhi:
- Bureaucratic Control: Decisions on who gets work will now be made in Delhi, far from ground realities.
- Loss of Dignity: She emphasized that MGNREGA was a “rights-based” program, whereas the new Act reduces it to a set of bureaucratic provisions.
- Erosion of bargaining power: The original scheme helped raise agricultural wages; the new law threatens this empowerment.
The Great Shift: MGNREGA vs. VB-G RAM-G
While the government highlights the increase in guaranteed days, the opposition points to the “fine print” of funding and control.
| Feature | MGNREGA (Old) | VB-G RAM-G (New) |
| Guaranteed Days | 100 Days | 125 Days |
| Funding Pattern | 100% Centre (Unskilled Wages) | 60:40 (Centre:State) |
| Nature of Scheme | Demand-Driven (Bottom-Up) | Normative Allocation (Top-Down) |
| Agriculture Pause | No specific mandatory pause | Mandatory 60-day pause (Sowing/Harvesting) |
| Himalayan/NE States | 90:10 Ratio | 90:10 Ratio (Retained) |
State-Level Pushback
The new 60:40 funding split has caused alarm among state governments.
- Financial Burden: States will now have to shell out an estimated ₹50,000+ crore collectively.
- Telangana & Kerala: Reports suggest Telangana could face an additional burden of ₹1,500 crore, while Kerala may have to bear ₹2,500 crore annually, causing severe strain on state budgets.