Yesterday, the halls of the Lok Sabha witnessed a legislative move that will be remembered as a turning point in India’s socio-economic history. Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan introduced the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill, 2025. This Bill is set to repeal and replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), a 20-year-old cornerstone of the Indian rural safety net.
For the readers of dharmendrakumhar.com, this represents more than just a change in nomenclature. It is a fundamental shift from a “survivalist” safety net to an “infrastructure-first” mission. As someone who has spent years documenting the stories of our village potters, masons, and laborers, I see this as a high-stakes gamble on the future of rural India.
- The Statutory Upgrade: 100 to 125 Days
The most visible change in the VB-G RAM G Bill is the increase in guaranteed employment. Under the original 2005 Act, households were entitled to 100 days of work. The new Bill raises this to 125 days. On paper, this is a 25% increase in the income potential of a rural family.
In my discussions with laborers in Rajasthan and Bihar, the 100-day limit was often seen as a ceiling that was reached too quickly, especially during drought years. By expanding this to 125 days, the government is acknowledging that the rural “living wage” requirement has grown. However, the real test lies in the implementation—will the funds be available to actually provide these extra 25 days?
- The Controversial “Agricultural Pause”
Perhaps the most debated section of the Bill is Section 6, which introduces a 60-day seasonal pause. The Bill allows state governments to notify a period of up to two months during peak sowing and harvesting seasons where no public works will be carried out.
The logic provided by the government is that MGNREGA often competed with farmers for labor, leading to artificial wage inflation and labor shortages during critical farming windows. While big landowners are cheering this move, the landless laborers are anxious. On my website, we’ve often discussed the “hunger months”—the periods between harvests. If a laborer cannot find work on a farm and the government works are “paused,” how do they survive? This is where the local advocacy of people like myself becomes critical—to ensure the “pause” doesn’t become a “sentence.”
- The Funding Shift: Centrally Sponsored vs. Central Sector
One of the most significant structural changes is the funding model. MGNREGA was a unique “Central Sector” hybrid where the Centre paid 100% of the unskilled wages. The VB-G RAM G Bill transitions this into a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with a 60:40 Centre-State sharing ratio (90:10 for Himalayan and NE states).
Critics argue that this shifts the financial burden to already cash-strapped states. If a state like West Bengal or Odisha cannot cough up its 40% share, will the laborers be denied work? The government counters that this will make states more accountable for every rupee spent, reducing the massive misappropriation—estimated at nearly ₹194 crore in the last fiscal year alone—that plagued the old system.
- The Digital Fortress: AI and the Infrastructure Stack
The Bill introduces the Viksit Bharat National Rural Infrastructure Stack. This is a massive digital overhaul that integrates AI-based fraud detection, GPS-enabled project tracking, and biometric attendance.
We are moving away from the old “pits and ponds” model where many assets existed only on paper. The new Bill mandates that all works must originate from the Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans, focusing on four thematic areas:
- Water Security: Amrit Sarovars and groundwater recharge.
- Core Infrastructure: Rural roads and connectivity.
- Livelihood Assets: Storage units and local markets.
- Climate Mitigation: Flood drainage and soil conservation.
Conclusion: A New Social Contract
The VB-G RAM G Bill is an ambitious attempt to align rural labor with the goal of a “Viksit Bharat” by 2047. It treats the rural laborer not as a recipient of charity, but as a builder of national infrastructure.
As Dharmendra Kumhar, I believe the success of this Bill won’t be measured in the Parliament, but in the muddy lanes of our villages. Will the 125-day promise be kept? Will the “Infrastructure Stack” truly eliminate the middleman? Only time will tell.
What do you think of the new 60:40 funding split? Will states be able to handle the burden? Share your thoughts in the comments below.