Hyderabad, Telangana: The Telangana Legislative Assembly on Friday passed a unanimous resolution opposing the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission (Grameen) Act, 2025 (VB G RAM G–2025), the NDA government’s replacement of the long-standing Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). The assembly voiced deep concerns over the potential impact of the new law on rural employment, women workers, marginalized communities, and principles of federalism.
Telangana becomes the second state after Punjab to formally register opposition to the Act, following Punjab’s earlier resolution. The Union government, through Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, had dismissed Punjab’s stance, calling it “anti-federal” and “violative of the Constitution.”
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy Criticizes VB G RAM G–2025
Presenting the resolution, Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy highlighted that the VB G RAM G–2025 Act dilutes the intent, guarantees, and spirit of the MGNREGA, which was enacted in 2005 by the UPA government under then-Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to ensure livelihood security for rural poor families.
“The Centre should continue MGNREGA in its current form to fulfil the aspirations and livelihood needs of wage-seeking rural households,” he asserted.
The Chief Minister emphasized the original scheme’s objectives, stating that it addressed poverty, unemployment, distress migration, exploitation of unskilled labor, and wage disparities between men and women, while promoting inclusive growth. He also noted that MGNREGA legally guarantees at least 100 days of wage employment per rural household annually at minimum wages, a provision critical for economically weaker sections.
In Telangana, nearly 90% of beneficiaries belong to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes, with women comprising about 62% of the workforce. Revanth Reddy underscored that Dalits, Adivasis, persons with disabilities, and members of particularly vulnerable tribal groups, including Chenchus, are among the primary beneficiaries of the program.
Key Concerns Raised in the Resolution
The resolution highlighted multiple areas where the new VB G RAM G–2025 Act could adversely affect rural populations:
- Undermining Rural Employment Rights:
The new framework removes the demand-driven planning mechanism of the current law, which could significantly limit the number of guaranteed workdays, thereby weakening employment security for rural poor and women. - Impact on Women Workers:
With women constituting nearly two-thirds of MGNREGA’s workforce, the imposition of normative, restrictive allocations in the new law could disproportionately affect women from poor households, curbing their financial independence and access to employment. - Violation of Federal Principles:
Currently, MGNREGA is fully funded by the Centre. The proposed shift to a 60:40 Centre-State funding ratioimposes an additional financial burden on states, undermining federal autonomy and operational efficiency at the state level. - Dilution of Gandhian Legacy:
The resolution expressed concern over the removal of Mahatma Gandhi’s name from the scheme, calling it a symbolic dilution of Gandhian values and the historical legacy of social justice that the scheme represents. - Restrictions on Agricultural Season Work:
The Act mandates a 60-day break during the agricultural season, which the assembly noted as unjust to landless laborers who depend on continuous work for sustenance. - Reduction in Labour-Intensive Activities:
The proposed law eliminates several labour-intensive categories of work, such as land development. This, the resolution warned, would adversely affect small and marginal farmers, Dalits, and tribal communities, who rely on these activities for both employment and income.
Political Support and Discussion
The resolution received support across party lines in the assembly. Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, CPI leader K Sambasaiva Rao, and other members voiced concerns, stressing that the VB G RAM G–2025 Act could threaten rural livelihoods and social equity.
The assembly collectively observed that the new law strikes at the core objectives of the employment guarantee program by replacing a flexible, demand-based approach with prescriptive, restrictive allocations, thereby reducing access and opportunities for vulnerable sections.
Telangana’s Stand: Continuation of MGNREGA
The House urged the Union government to maintain MGNREGA in its present form, emphasizing that the scheme has played a crucial role in poverty alleviation and rural employment over the past two decades. Telangana’s resolution underscores the state’s demand for:
- Continued legal guarantee of 100 days of wage employment per household
- Protection of women’s employment rights under the scheme
- Preservation of the original demand-driven approach
- Avoidance of financial strain on states through equitable funding mechanisms
Wider Implications
The resolution signals growing opposition at the state level to the Centre’s policy change, raising questions about federal dynamics and rural welfare priorities. Telangana joins Punjab in asserting that the new law could negatively impact marginalized communities, particularly women, Dalits, Adivasis, and landless laborers, while shifting financial responsibility onto states.
The assembly’s unanimous decision also reflects a broad political consensus within Telangana that MGNREGA’s principles—employment security, social equity, and rural empowerment—must be preserved.
In conclusion, Telangana’s legislative action against the VB G RAM G–2025 Act underscores concerns that the new framework could dilute the protections and guarantees provided under MGNREGA, disproportionately affect women and vulnerable groups, and violate the federal spirit of governance. The resolution calls for continuation of the original law, with its inclusive, demand-based, and fully central government-funded structure, ensuring livelihood security for rural households across the state.
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