Viksit Bharat G Ram G a Step Beyond MGNREGA: Chouhan
Union Rural Development Minister says new law guarantees 125 days of work, slams ‘misinformation campaign’
- President gives assent to Viksit Bharat: G Ram G Act
- Legal employment guarantee raised from 100 to 125 days
- ₹1.51 lakh crore allocation proposed for the scheme
- Govt counters “misleading narratives” around MGNREGA
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 22nd Dec: Union Minister for Rural Development and Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday said the Viksit Bharat: G Ram G Act marks a decisive step beyond MGNREGA, asserting that a “conspiracy to mislead the country” is being carried out by spreading misinformation about the new law.
His remarks came after Droupadi Murmu gave her assent to the Viksit Bharat: G Ram G Bill, formally turning it into law.
Addressing the concerns being raised, Chouhan said, “My labourer brothers, now there is a legal guarantee of 125 days of work, not just 100. Once again, rumours are being spread in the name of MGNREGA, but the truth is that Viksit Bharat: G Ram G is a progressive step forward.”
The Union Minister explained that the Act strengthens the right to employment by increasing the guaranteed workdays, reinforcing unemployment allowance provisions when work is not provided, and introducing additional compensation for delayed wage payments.
Highlighting the government’s commitment, Chouhan said an allocation of ₹1,51,282 crore has been proposed for the scheme in the current year. He said the objective is to build developed, self-reliant and poverty-free villages with ample employment opportunities under the vision of Viksit Bharat through Viksit Villages.
Under the new framework, priority will be given to works related to water conservation, rural infrastructure, livelihoods and disaster mitigation, ensuring sustainable income generation while improving rural resilience and productivity.
Chouhan also pointed out that special provisions have been included to protect small and marginal farmers, especially during peak agricultural seasons, so that labour availability and farming operations remain balanced.
Another major reform under the Act is the increase in the administrative expenditure cap from 6% to 9%. Of the total allocation, nearly ₹13,000 crore will be used to strengthen implementation capacity. This, he said, will ensure timely remuneration for panchayat secretaries, employment assistants and technical staff, enabling better execution and monitoring at the grassroots level.
“The law stands firmly with the poor, guarantees employment to workers and lays the foundation for a Developed India through empowered villages,” the Minister said, describing the Act as a cornerstone of inclusive growth and rural rejuvenation.
Concluding his statement, Chouhan appealed to citizens and stakeholders to spread accurate information about the Act. “Viksit Bharat: G Ram G is not a replacement, but a stronger and more forward-looking continuation of MGNREGA’s vision — expanded to realise the dream of a truly Developed India,” he said.
