Punjab Assembly Opposes New Employment Act, Calls for Restoration of MGNREGA

Punjab Assembly's Resolution Against VB-G RAM G Act

On Tuesday, the Punjab Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution opposing the 2025 VB-G RAM G Act, accusing the Union government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party of stripping Dalit workers of their right to guaranteed employment.

The Assembly urged the state government to press the Union government to revert the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) to its original provisions.

The 2025 Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, which is set to replace MGNREGA, received presidential assent on December 21, shortly after being passed by Parliament amidst opposition protests.

Initially introduced in 2005 by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance, MGNREGA aimed to bolster livelihood security for rural households, guaranteeing 100 days of unskilled work annually for those who sought it across all districts.

Under the new legislation, the number of guaranteed workdays is set to increase to 125, with states expected to cover 40% of the costs. The Union government will maintain responsibility for the wage component, while states will handle material and administrative expenses.

This new law has faced backlash from economists and labor rights advocates.

On December 27, the Congress party announced plans for a nationwide protest starting January 5, demanding the repeal of the VB-G RAM G Act.

The Punjab government, led by the Aam Aadmi Party, also convened a special one-day Assembly session to express its opposition to the VB-G RAM G Act.

During the session, Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond presented the resolution for discussion, highlighting the adverse effects the VB-G RAM G Act would have on families living below the poverty line, Scheduled Caste communities, and rural laborers reliant on MGNREGA for their livelihoods.

Sond accused the Union government of attempting to dismantle MGNREGA, calling for its restoration.

The resolution described the replacement of the previous Act as a "deliberate and dangerous conspiracy," asserting that the BJP-led central government has not only dismantled a vital government scheme but also jeopardized the survival of Dalit laborers across the nation.

It emphasized that MGNREGA serves as a crucial lifeline for millions of Dalits, enabling them to remain in their villages, earn a living, educate their children, and live with dignity.

According to the resolution, abolishing MGNREGA is not merely a policy change but a declaration of an anti-Dalit ideology, clearly stating that the BJP central government's policies are detrimental to Dalit communities.