President Droupadi Murmu’s reference to the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act in her address to the joint sitting of Parliament on Wednesday triggered protests from Opposition parties, which raised slogans demanding rollback of the law.
While addressing members of both Houses at the start of the Budget Session, the President said the VB-G RAM G Act would provide a guarantee of 125 days of employment, curb corruption and leakages, and give fresh momentum to rural development. Her remarks were welcomed by members of the treasury benches, who thumped their desks in approval.
However, Opposition MPs strongly objected to the reference, raising slogans such as “vapas lo” (roll back the Act), forcing President Murmu to briefly pause her address.
The VB-G RAM G Act is set to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). Opposition parties have demanded withdrawal of the new law and restoration of MGNREGA in its original, rights-based form, including the guaranteed right to work and the authority of panchayats.
The government, meanwhile, has maintained that the VB-G RAM G Act will further strengthen the rural employment guarantee system and improve transparency and efficiency in implementation.
