VB-G RAM G better scheme than MGNREGA; Congress spreading misinformation, says Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday, January 4, 2025 common under MGNREGAand accused Congress of spreading misinformation about the VB-G RAM G plan.

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Mr. Chouhan criticized the Congress for the upcoming campaign against the VB-G RAM G scheme and asked why Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi was not present in the Lok Sabha during the debate on the issue.

“Congress has announced a ‘MGNREGA Bachao Sangram’. This is actually a campaign to save corruption,” he said.

“MGNREGA had become synonymous with corruption. In social audits conducted by gram sabhas, there were more than 10, 51,000 complaints. The same jobs were repeated, work was done with machines, money was siphoned off in the name of cleaning canals and roads. 30 percent of the workers were above 60 years of age.”

“Under the Modi government, more than ₹8,48,000 crore was given, while during the UPA, more than ₹2 lakh crore was given. Have permanent assets been created? Can the money be used for development?” he said.

“Congress is a factory of lies. Now they are saying that workers cannot find jobs,” he accused

He argued that workers’ interests would be better protected under VB-G RAM G.

Mr. Chouhan said that over Rs 1,51,282 crore will be allocated for the scheme in the next financial year. The Centre’s share will be 95,600 crore.

“There is enough money for 125 days. This will also enable the development of the villages.”

Asserting that “VB-G RAM G is a better scheme than MGNREGA,” he said, “My appeal to the Congress is that it should not spread misinformation and lies. Instead, it should thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for making this scheme better”.

The Congress on Saturday, January 3, announced a nationwide ‘MGNREGA Bachao Sangram’ from January 10 to February 25 to demand withdrawal of the VB G-RAM-G Act, restoration of MGNREGA as a rights-based law, right to work and power of panchayats.

Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Bill or VB-G RAM GIt was passed by voice vote on December 18, 2025, amid protests in the Rajya Sabha, hours after the Lok Sabha cleared it.

On December 21, President Droupadi Murmu assented to the Bill, making it an Act to replace the rural employment law MGNREGA and guarantee 125 days of paid employment per rural household in every financial year.