In a move that has sparked widespread condemnation, the government's decision to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) with the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), or VB–G RAM G, Bill, 2025, has triggered a fierce backlash from the Indian National Congress. The Congress party has accused the government of "destroying" the rural job guarantee scheme and has stepped up its protests across the country.

The MGNREGA, enacted in 2005 by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, guarantees 100 days of wage employment per year to rural households where adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work. The scheme provides a crucial safety net for India's rural poor, particularly during economic downturns and agricultural distress, by legally binding the government to provide work to every rural household that demands it, failing which it must pay them an unemployment allowance.

However, the ruling government has defended the new VB–G RAM G Bill, stating that it aims to restructure and strengthen rural employment and livelihood schemes. Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that the VB-G RAM G Bill will ensure all-around development of villages and make them poverty-free, fueling their growth journey. The new bill increases the minimum number of guaranteed work days from 100 to 125.

Despite these claims, the Congress and other opposition parties have vehemently criticized the new legislation, raising concerns about the central government's increased control over the scheme and the potential weakening of the rights of rural workers. Congress leaders accuse the government of "effectively dismantling MGNREGA - by converting it from a right to a favour" and "desecration of this groundbreaking law in Parliament over the last week".

A key point of contention is the shift in decision-making power from local Gram Panchayats to the central government. Under the new bill, the central government will determine the state-wise allocation of funds based on objective parameters. This has led to concerns that the Centre could decide in which region or area it wants to allocate work and how much funds a state should be sanctioned.

Another controversial aspect of the VB–G RAM G Bill is the proposed 60-day pause on guaranteed work during agricultural seasons. Critics argue that this will put farm laborers at a disadvantage, as the MGNREGA empowered them to bargain for better wages during peak agricultural seasons.

The Congress party has organized nationwide protests at district headquarters to voice their opposition to the new bill. Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi accused the government of "bulldozing" MGNREGA and asserted that the "black law" that seeks to repeal it will be defied by lakhs of party workers across the country. Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal said that the BJP has turned the right to work into a budget-dependent scheme, pushing crores of rural families into insecurity and distress by capping funds, centralizing control and altering its demand-driven nature.

Several experts have echoed the Congress' concerns, stating that the new law will lead to inequitable access to employment and incentivize distress migration. Economist Jean Dreze said the new law “is all set to destroy MGNREGA in the guise of revamping it as a new scheme”.

As the debate over the future of rural employment guarantee schemes intensifies, the Congress party has vowed to continue its protests and mobilize public opinion against the government's decision. The party's Working Committee is scheduled to meet on December 27 to decide on the future course of action.