States Raise Concerns Over VB-G RAM G Act Replacing MGNREGA from July 1
The Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act (VB-G RAM G), set to replace MGNREGA from July 1, has raised concerns among several states, including BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Uttarakhand. Critics, including Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, argue the new law centralizes control and increases financial burdens on states, while some states oppose its blackout period during peak agricultural seasons and seek higher rural wages. Experts also question the shift from a demand-driven to a centrally funded model amid structural challenges in rural employment schemes.