‘G Ram G’ Bill Replaces MGNREGA, Sparks Overnight Opposition Protest in Parliament

‘G RAM G’ Bill Replaces MGNREGA Amid Fierce Opposition in Parliament.

The Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Employment and Livelihood Mission (Rural) Bill, popularly known as G RAM G, passed through Parliament this week, replacing the UPA-era MGNREGA after heated debates and overnight protests by opposition parties.

The Lok Sabha approved the bill Thursday afternoon amid walkouts and sloganeering, while the Rajya Sabha continued discussions past midnight, finally passing the bill by voice vote at 12:15 am. Opposition MPs, including those from the Trinamool Congress and Congress, staged a dharna inside Parliament, protesting both the name change from Mahatma Gandhi to G Ram G and the bill’s provisions.

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge accused the government of undermining the poor and Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy, urging a withdrawal of the law. Trinamool MP Derek O’Brien highlighted how West Bengal had renamed its Karmashree scheme to Mahatmashree following the bill’s passage.

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan defended the bill, saying it modernizes MGNREGA, incorporates Gandhi’s ideals, and addresses corruption. The new law increases the work guarantee from 100 to 125 days, while employment will be allocated via pre-approved plans, focusing on water security, rural infrastructure, livelihood assets, and climate resilience.

Critics argue the bill dilutes MGNREGA’s original spirit, limits worker choice, and symbolically removes Gandhi’s name, while the government insists it is a necessary update for rural development in India.