Employment guarantee scheme VB‑G RAM G criticised for undermining MGNREGA
Summary
- The central government introduced VB‑G RAM G as an expansion of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
- The scheme was intended to widen the employment guarantee to additional vulnerable households and to create more waged work opportunities.
- Policy analysts and labour unions contend that VB‑G RAM G has diluted the core guarantee of MGNREGA, leading to delayed wage payments and reduced person‑days of work.
- Since the launch of VB‑G RAM G, the overall coverage of guaranteed employment under the combined framework has fallen, prompting calls for a review.
- The Ministry of Rural Development has placed VB‑G RAM G in a temporary hold while evaluating its impact on the employment‑guarantee ecosystem.
Key Facts
- · VB‑G RAM G was announced in 2023 as an expansion of MGNREGA.
- · The scheme targeted an additional 5 crore vulnerable households across rural and peri‑urban areas.
- · Under VB‑G RAM G, the promised workdays per household were reduced from 100 to 80 days annually.
- · Payment delays of up to 45 days were reported in several states after the scheme’s rollout.
- · Labour unions have staged protests citing erosion of MGNREGA’s guarantee.
- · The Ministry of Rural Development has suspended further disbursements under VB‑G RAM G pending a policy review.
Why it matters
Employment guarantee schemes are a cornerstone of India's rural poverty alleviation strategy; any dilution or mis‑implementation directly impacts livelihood security for millions, influences rural wage rates, and tests the government's commitment to inclusive growth.
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