Priyanka Gandhi Vadra urges the Centre to withdraw the proposed MGNREGA replacement, alleging reduced funding and weakened local control.

Congress leader and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday strongly objected to the Centre’s move to introduce a new rural employment law, urging the government to withdraw the proposed legislation. Her remarks came during the Winter Session of Parliament, shortly after Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan tabled the VB-G RAM G Bill, which seeks to replace the two-decade-old MGNREGA framework.

Gandhi argued that the proposed law undermines the core principles of the existing employment guarantee scheme, which assures 100 days of work to rural households. She raised concerns over the renaming exercise, questioning the financial burden involved, and alleged that the Centre’s contribution to the programme would drop significantly compared to the earlier structure. She also warned that the bill weakens the authority of gram sabhas, shifting decision-making away from villages.

The opposition fears that moving away from a demand-driven employment model could reduce job security for rural workers, particularly in economically vulnerable regions. As Parliament debates the bill’s future, sending it to a standing committee may allow broader consultation and help address concerns around funding, transparency, and local empowerment.