Empowering Villages: New Bill Seeks to Amend Rural Employment Landscape

The Lok Sabha discussed a new Bill aiming to replace MNREGA by guaranteeing 125 days of rural employment annually. The initiative aims to boost village self-reliance and development, although it faced criticism for removing Mahatma Gandhi's name and potentially limiting grassroots decision-making.

A new Bill aiming to replace the two-decade-old MNREGA came under discussion in the Lok Sabha, promising to guarantee 125 days of rural employment each year. Union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan emphasized the Bill's potential to ensure consistent employment while helping villages achieve self-reliance, aligning with Mahatma Gandhi's vision.

The Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, according to Chouhan, will foster village development and poverty eradication. The Bill represents a government commitment to bolstering rural communities, prompting a lively debate in the parliamentary session.

Critics, including Jai Prakash from Congress, expressed dissatisfaction, describing the omission of Mahatma Gandhi's name as a grave error. Concerns were raised about the law's impact on state finances and grassroots empowerment. Despite these criticisms, the Bill outlines statutory employment guarantees for rural households, requiring states to adopt compliant schemes within six months.

(With inputs from agencies.)