Demolition of MGNREGA to Have Catastrophic Consequences: Sonia Gandhi.
New Delhi:
Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi today expressed serious concern over the replacement of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), warning that its “demolition” would have catastrophic consequences for crores of people living in rural India.
In an editorial published in The Hindu titled “The bulldozed demolition of MGNREGA”, Sonia Gandhi described the weakening and eventual replacement of the landmark rural employment scheme as a collective failure. She said MGNREGA had served as a critical safety net for rural households, ensuring livelihood security, reducing distress migration and empowering marginalised communities, particularly women.
Her remarks came a day after President Droupadi Murmu gave assent to the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) [VB-G RAM G] Bill, which formally replaces MGNREGA. The new legislation provides for up to 125 days of wage employment for rural workers, compared to the guaranteed 100 days under MGNREGA.
Sonia Gandhi argued that MGNREGA was not merely a welfare scheme but a legal right that transformed the relationship between the state and rural citizens. She cautioned that dismantling such a rights-based framework would undermine rural livelihoods at a time when unemployment, inflation and agrarian distress continue to affect large sections of the population.
“The death of MGNREGA is a collective failure,” she wrote, adding that the scheme had played a vital role during economic downturns and crises, including periods of drought and the COVID-19 pandemic. According to her, weakening this safeguard would leave millions vulnerable and deepen rural inequality.
Calling upon political parties, civil society and citizens to unite, the former Congress president urged collective action to safeguard hard-won rights that protect the most vulnerable. She stressed that inclusive development must prioritise social security and dignity of labour rather than dismantling existing protections.
The Centre, however, has maintained that the new VB-G RAM G framework aims to modernise rural employment and livelihood support. Critics, including opposition leaders, argue that replacing MGNREGA risks diluting a proven programme that has been central to rural economic stability for nearly two decades.
