Hyderabad: BC Finance Corporation Chairman Nuthi Srikanth Goud on Monday criticised the BJP-led NDA government for replacing MGNREGA with a new rural employment framework. According to him, the move attempts to erase the Nehru-Gandhi legacy from India’s welfare architecture.
Terming the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission–Gramin Bill, 2025, a historic blunder, Srikanth Goud said the decision went far beyond a mere change in name. In his view, the government weakened one of India’s strongest rights-based welfare laws through the move.
Replacing MGNREGA weakens right-to-work framework
Explaining his concerns, Srikanth Goud said the new VB-G RAM G scheme alters the foundation of rural employment. Instead of a legal entitlement, the scheme now follows a mission-based approach. Although the government increased guaranteed workdays from 100 to 125, he argued that workers no longer enjoy the right to demand employment.
Meanwhile, he criticised the revised 60:40 funding ratio between the Centre and States. He said the change places additional financial pressure on States already under fiscal stress. Additionally, he warned that digital attendance systems, geotagging and seasonal pauses could disrupt rural livelihoods, particularly for landless workers who depend on steady income.
Finally, Srikanth Goud alleged that the removal of MGNREGA reflects a broader pattern of renaming welfare schemes. According to him, the strategy seeks to erase the Nehru-Gandhi association. He cautioned that such moves weaken India’s welfare legacy and risk reducing reform to political rebranding ahead of elections.
