Srinagar, 20 December 2025: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has criticised the newly introduced Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB‑G RAM G) Bill, calling it detrimental to states and raising concerns over the removal of Mahatma Gandhi’s name from the rural employment scheme it replaces.
Abdullah stated that the amended rural employment bill, which replaces the long-running MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act), shifts financial burdens onto states rather than benefiting them. He described the removal of Gandhi’s name as “wrong” and questioned the choice of the new bill’s name, likening “G RAM G” to a Bollywood movie title.
The Chief Minister emphasised that while he acknowledges positive actions by the Centre, he will also publicly highlight what he sees as policy missteps, something he has done both in Srinagar and in Delhi.
The issue has sparked broader political debate, with opposition leaders, including Congress members, protesting the removal of Gandhi’s name and the alleged shift of financial responsibility to the states. Critics argue that the bill could weaken rural employment safeguards and strain state budgets.
Introduced in Parliament as a replacement for MGNREGA, the VB‑G RAM G Bill promises 125 days of guaranteed rural employment annually. However, it has faced sharp opposition over concerns about renaming the scheme, increasing state financial burdens, and moving away from the rights-based framework of MGNREGA.
