Several people’s and agricultural rights organisations, under the nationwide umbrella of NREGA Sangharsh Morcha, condemned the introduction of Viksit Bharat - Guarantee For Rozgar And Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025 (VB-G RAM G), to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (MNREGA). They demanded immediate withdrawal of the Bill.
“The VB-G RAM G Bill is not a reform but a rollback of democratic and constitutional guarantees won by workers through decades of sustained struggles. The Union government is seeking to dismantle a historic rights-based legislation and reduce the right to work to a discretionary dole,” a statement issued by the Morcha said.
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, representatives of the Dalit Bahujan Front (DBF), Rythu Swarajya Vedika (RSV), Telangana People’s Joint Action Committee (TPJAC), People’s Monitoring Committee and National Alliance for Justice, Accountability & Rights spoke against the Bill.
Ravi Kanneganti from TPJAC said the MNREGA had been a safety net for crores of people, and its repeal without public consultations will lead to mass unemployment. He urged the Telangana government to pass a resolution in the Legislative Assembly opposing the Bill.
