CM warns of stir, like the farmers’ protest, seeking repeal of VB-G RAM G Act

Overview Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has announced plans to launch a protest, in collaboration with like-minded political parties and organizations, against the new Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) . The aim of the protest is to demand the repeal of this new scheme and the restoration of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Act (MGNREGA) . Key Developments Protest Announcement Siddaramaiah , along with Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar , addressed a press conference stating the need to protect the rights of the rural poor, laborers, and women by repealing the new law. Allegations Against the Central Government The Chief Minister accused the NDA government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi , of effectively “killing Mahatma Gandhi for the second time” by repealing the job scheme named after him. He argued that while Mahatma Gandhi advocated Gram Swaraj , the Centre had “destroyed the panchayat system” by curtailing the rights of rural local bodies to identify and allot work under the scheme. Constitutional Concerns Calling the move “unconstitutional and anti-federal”, Siddaramaiah cited Articles 258 and 280 , and the 73rd Constitutional Amendment , alleging that the Centre had taken away the powers of the gram panchayats. MGNREGA's Legacy MGNREGA , introduced 20 years ago by the UPA-I government in 2005 , ensured several rights for the poor and common people, including the right to work, Mr. Siddaramaiah recalled. Potential Negative Impacts He argued that the repeal of MGNREGA would lead to: Increased unemployment Migration Loss of minimum wage protection Exploitation of labor Reduced participation of women in labor Hardship for Dalit and Adivasi families RSS Allegations The Chief Minister charged that this was being done at the behest of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) . Referring to Manu Smriti , he said it propagated the idea that women, Shudras, and Dalits should not possess wealth and should live by working for others. Shift in Employment Scheme He said that under the new VB-G RAM G Act , employment had been converted from a demand-driven scheme to a supply-driven one, with the Centre deciding where and when work would be undertaken. Financial Implications for the State The Chief Minister, who holds the Finance portfolio, said the new Act would impose an additional financial burden of nearly ₹3,000 crore annually on the State government. Earlier, the Centre bore 90% of expenditure under MGNREGA . The new law mandates States to contribute 40% of the cost. Data on MGNREGA Workers Rolling out data, Mr. Siddaramaiah said that MGNREGA supported around 12.16 crore workers across the country, of whom 6.21 crore were women, accounting for nearly 54% of the workforce. In Karnataka, there were 71.18 lakh active MGNREGA workers, including 36.75 lakh women. He had written to Mr. Modi , on December 31, 2025 , opposing the legislation. Concerns from D.K. Shivakumar Mr. Shivakumar said the issue was not political but concerned the livelihoods of the poor. He questioned the silence of BJP leaders on the matter and said that even BJP-ruled States would be adversely affected by the new law. UPSC Relevance This news article is relevant to the UPSC syllabus under GS Paper 2 (Government Policies & Interventions) and GS Paper 3 (Economy) . It highlights the debate surrounding social welfare schemes, federalism, and the role of government in ensuring employment and livelihood security. Important Facts for Prelims MGNREGA was introduced in 2005 . The new scheme is called Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) . The previous central contribution to MGNREGA was 90% . The new state contribution is mandated at 40% . Potential Mains Questions Analyze the impact of the shift from MGNREGA to VB-G RAM G on rural employment and poverty alleviation. Critically evaluate the implications of reduced central funding for rural employment schemes on state finances and social welfare. Discuss the constitutional and ethical dimensions of altering demand-driven social welfare programs.