Opposition Criticizes VB-G RAM G Act Over Funding Formula and Technology Concerns Opposition leaders have raised significant concerns about the newly proposed VB-G RAM G Act, which is set to replace the MGNREGA scheme from July 1. The legislation, which aims to streamline rural employment programs, has drawn criticism for its funding formula, reliance on technology, and perceived erosion of state autonomy. Opposition figures, including CPM leader Brinda Karat, have highlighted practical challenges faced by workers and questioned the fairness of the rules governing the new scheme. Karat, who visited a tribal village in Rajasthan’s Udaipur district, detailed the difficulties encountered by rural laborers under the VB-G RAM G Act. She described how women workers in Barapala faced repeated failures in accessing the online attendance system due to poor internet connectivity. “Scores of women waited for four hours for the official site to open, but the connection was unavailable, and the ‘mate’ in charge had to declare no work would be done that day,” she explained. Karat emphasized that this issue is not isolated, as similar problems have persisted since the MGNREGA was scrapped in December 2025. Under the new act, a “mate” serves as the designated worksite supervisor, tasked with managing attendance and work allocation. Karat noted that workers have received only 18 days of employment between January and June 2026, far below the guaranteed days under MGNREGA. She also highlighted the exclusion of elderly workers due to biometric face recognition systems failing to capture their eye scans, leaving them without work opportunities. The opposition leader criticized the rules governing the VB-G RAM G Act, which were published on May 22 without consultation with rural workers’ organizations.#shivraj_singh_chouhan #vb_g_ram_g_act #cpm_leader_brinda_karat #udaipur_district #barapala
VB-G RAM G Act to Replace MGNREGA, Effective July 1, 2026 The Indian government announced on May 11, 2026, that the Viksit Bharat—Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act will come into effect nationwide on July 1, 2026, replacing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). A notification issued by the Ministry of Rural Development stated that the new law will apply to all states and union territories, marking the end of the 2005 MGNREGA. The transition is described as seamless, with assurances that workers’ ongoing projects under MGNREGA will be transferred to the new framework without disruption. The Ministry emphasized that existing e-KYC-verified MGNREGA job cards will remain valid until the new "gramin rozgar guarantee cards" are issued. Workers will not face employment denial due to pending e-KYC verification, and registration processes for those without job cards will continue at the gram panchayat level. The government also highlighted that the new act aims to strengthen rural employment, infrastructure development, and self-reliance in villages, positioning gram panchayats as the "central pillar" of rural transformation. President of India formally assented to the VB-G RAM G Bill, paving the way for its implementation. The Ministry of Rural Development further stated that draft rules governing wage payments, grievance redressal mechanisms, allocation norms, and transitional provisions are being finalized in consultation with states and union territories. These rules will be published for public consultation in the coming weeks. In addition to the legal framework, the government launched a logo design contest for the VB-G RAM G Act, encouraging creative input from the public.#india #mgnrega #gram_panchayat #ministry_of_rural_development #vb_g_ram_g_act
