Perils and promises

Theenhancements in VB-G RAM Gareundeniably ambitious. The guaranteed workdays jump from 100 to 125, a 25 per cent boost that could translate to higher household incomes, addressing criticisms that MGNREGA'slimitoften became a defacto ceiling. Quality takes centre stagetoo: while MGNREGA's assets were frequently derided as makeshift earthen damserodingin rains or paths vanishing under floods, the new mission mandates focus on four strategic pillars: water security, corerural infrastructure, livelihood assets and disaster mitigation

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In the vast expanse of India's rural heartland, where the rhythm of life still pulses to the beat of monsoons and harvests, a seismic policy shift is underway. For two decades, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) stood as a beacon of hope for millions, enshrining the right to work as a fundamental entitlement. It was more than a programme; it was a lifeline, guaranteeing 100 days of unskilled manual labor to any rural household that demanded it, backed by the threat of unemployment allowances if the state failed to deliver.

Now, with the advent of the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) or VB-G RAM G, the government has boldly repealed MGNREGA, signaling a departure from a reactive safety net to a proactive engine of development. This transition, hailed by proponents as a modernization drive aligned with India's ambitions for a 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047, has sparked intense debate. At its core lies a tension between empowering the rural poor through immediate relief and channeling their labour toward enduring national infrastructure. As we dissect this pivot, it becomes clear that while the new scheme offers tantalizing upgrades, it risks unraveling the very fabric of rural security if not navigated with caution.

To grasp the magnitude of this change, one must juxtapose the foundational architectures of MGNREGA and VB-GRAM G. MGNREGA, enacted in 2005, was revolutionary in its demand-driven ethos. It operated on a simple, enforceable principle: rural workers could request employment at their local panchayat and the state had to provide it within 15 days or compensate them for the delay. Funding was overwhelmingly central, with the Union government covering 100 per cent of unskilled wages and a significant portion of materials, ensuring that the scheme could expand organically with need.