G RAM G Bill gets LS nod

THE LOK SABHA on Thursday passed a Bill to replace the 20-year-old Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), amid slogan-shouting and uproar by Opposition members.

- FE BUREAU

Replying to an eight-hour-long debate on the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission—Gramin (G RAM G) Bill, Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan alleged large-scale corruption and inefficiencies in the implementation of MGNREGA, arguing that the scheme had “outlived its utility”.

He said the government’s focus had shifted from merely paying wages to creating permanent assets, developing model villages and strengthening rural infrastructure.

Chouhan said the new law was the outcome of extensive deliberations and would enable expenditure of 10-11 lakh crore on water conservation, core rural infrastructure, livelihood creation and special works to mitigate extreme weather events.