The Kerala Assembly on Thursday (February 5, 2026) passed a resolution demanding that the Union government restore the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) framework by withdrawing the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB–G RAM G).
“VB-G RAM G entails severe financial burden on the States. With its introduction, the rights-based approach that was the essence of the existing (MGNREG) scheme has vanished,” said the resolution presented by Minister for Local Self-Government M.B. Rajesh. Under the new system, it falls upon the States to provide unemployment wages and compensation for delayed payment of wages, it said.
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While the Centre retains the power to decide the share of the States, the latter are held fully responsible for the additional burdens arising from the scheme, the resolution said. Under VB-G RAM G, the Centre would set a ‘normative allocation,’ 40% of which would be borne by the States. The complete responsibility of all working days beyond this allocation has to be borne by the States. It is estimated that Kerala would incur an additional burden of ₹3,500 crore on account of this new condition, the resolution said.
