VB-G RAM G hurdles remain ahead of rollout

India's ambitious Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025 (VB-G RAM G), faces significant challenges as it prepares to replace the long-standing Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) starting July 1. Despite the promise of providing 125 days of statutory wage employment annually to rural households, the transition is encountering delays due to unresolved logistical and administrative issues, as well as resistance from multiple state governments.

Originally slated to begin on April 1, the implementation of VB-G RAM G was postponed due to inadequate preparation of the digital platform and technical infrastructure required for its execution. As a result, state and district authorities have been granted until June 30 to finalize all outstanding tasks under the previous MGNREGS framework. This deadline adds pressure to local administrations already struggling with a backlog of unfinished projects. In Rajasthan’s Dungarpur district, for instance, more than 5,735 MGNREGA-related projects remain incomplete, excluding those related to the Prime Minister’s Awas Yojana and plantation initiatives. Each sub-district within Dungarpur reports varying degrees of delay, with some areas having over 800 unfinished works. Additionally, thirty-eight projects have been entirely halted, raising concerns about the feasibility of meeting the new scheme’s objectives.

Despite these challenges, officials from the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) acknowledge that critical infrastructure such as ponds, irrigation structures, grazing lands, rural roads, and community buildings have remained unfinished across numerous panchayats for years. These delays highlight systemic inefficiencies and resource allocation problems that have persisted under the existing system. However, local engineers like MGNREGA’s Dungarpur executive engineer Mahesh Ojha assert that pending works will be completed by June 30, contradicting the district-level data that suggests otherwise.

Political opposition to the new act has also intensified, particularly from the opposition Congress party. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh criticized the government for unilaterally introducing VB-G RAM G without consulting key stakeholders, including the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development and state governments. He accused the ruling party of imposing an unfair financial burden on states, requiring them to cover 40% of the total expenditure under the new scheme, compared to the current arrangement where the central government shoulders 100% of the wage costs while states contribute only 10% towards materials.

Ramesh highlighted that even states governed by the BJP, such as Madhya Pradesh and Bihar, have voiced concerns about the new financial structure. Notably, Madhya Pradesh, the home state of Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, has reportedly raised reservations regarding the new scheme. This internal dissent underscores the complexity of implementing a nationwide policy shift, especially when it involves altering the fiscal responsibilities of both the center and the states.

Opposition leaders argue that the new law undermines the constitutional rights enshrined in MGNREGA, which guaranteed the right to work. They claim that VB-G RAM G instead promotes centralization and exacerbates financial strain on states, potentially jeopardizing the livelihoods of millions of rural laborers. Randeep Surjewala, another senior Congress leader, described the replacement of MGNREGA as a "calculated conspiracy" aimed at pushing rural populations into poverty, questioning how states could manage the increased financial burden without compromising job creation for the most vulnerable segments of society.

As the deadline approaches, the success of VB-G RAM G hinges on the ability of both federal and state authorities to address the backlog of unfinished projects and resolve the financial and political disputes surrounding the new scheme. With time running out, the coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether the transition from MGNREGS to VB-G RAM G can proceed smoothly or if further delays and complications will arise.