Reimagining Rural Employment Security

The landscape of rural development in India is poised for a significant shift with the introduction of the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), known as the VB-G RAM G Bill, 2025. Supporters hail it as a bold step towards employment security and livelihood support for millions of rural households, while critics have raised serious concerns about its implications, timing, and implementation.

President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday gave her assent to the VB-G RAM G Bill, the Rural Development Ministry announced. Passed by Parliament amid heated opposition protests, the legislation aims to replace the existing rural employment law, MGNREGA, and guarantees 125 days of wage employment per rural household per financial year. The government has emphasized that the new scheme seeks to create a rural development framework aligned with the national vision of ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’, promoting modernized infrastructure, skill development, and sustainable livelihoods.

However, the opposition has strongly condemned the move. The Congress Party staged nationwide protests on December 21, 2025, at district headquarters, criticizing the government for effectively “dismantling” the MGNREGA. Party leaders argued that the act was transformed from a guaranteed legal right into a discretionary scheme heavily dependent on budget allocations. They warned that centralization and restructuring have eroded the demand-driven nature of the programme, leaving millions of rural families vulnerable and uncertain about their livelihoods.

Yet, the move towards a new framework cannot be viewed in isolation from the persistent lacunae that have plagued MGNREGA over the years and steadily weakened its credibility on the ground. Chronic delays in wage payments, often stretching into months, have undermined the very premise of livelihood security for rural households. Inadequate and irregular fund releases by the Centre, coupled with mounting pending liabilities, frequently resulted in rationing of work and denial of employment despite formal demand. The absence of a strong accountability mechanism for officials responsible for delays, limited convergence with skill development and durable asset creation, and uneven implementation across states further diluted outcomes. In several regions, the scheme degenerated into short-term, low-productivity works with little long-term economic value, while procedural complexities and digital compliance requirements excluded the poorest and least literate workers. These structural and operational shortcomings gradually compelled the government to argue for a modified, more structured rural employment law—culminating in the VB-G RAM G framework—aimed at addressing inefficiencies, ensuring predictable funding, and aligning rural employment with sustainable livelihood creation rather than mere wage disbursal.

Nevertheless, the VB-G RAM G Bill represents more than a legislative shift—it is a statement of intent. Its success will depend not only on enactment but on rigorous execution, community engagement, and mechanisms to ensure that the scheme genuinely empowers rural households rather than replacing one uncertainty with another. If managed well, it could be a cornerstone of rural development for decades, helping India move closer to the vision of a self-reliant and prosperous ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’.