Hyderabad: The Cabinet sub-committee constituted by the Telangana government to examine the implications of the proposed Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB G RAM G) Act, 2025, is expected to recommend a series of amendments aimed at safeguarding the interests of workers, self-help groups, rural households, small and marginal farmers, and other vulnerable sections.
The committee, which met on Sunday under the chairmanship of irrigation minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy at Secretariat, expressed serious concerns over several provisions of the proposed legislation, which members felt could adversely affect Telangana’s interests and weaken protections available to vulnerable rural communities.
Members observed that some provisions of the proposed legislation could dilute the role of state governments in planning and implementing employment guarantee programmes while increasing financial liabilities on states. The committee noted that Telangana’s rural poor could be placed at a disadvantage in accessing employment opportunities and livelihood support under the new framework.
During the deliberations, the committee explored various options for formally conveying the state’s dissent over omissions and commissions in the proposed framework that seeks to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) with the VB-G RAM G Act from July 1.
The Telangana government’s response is expected to emphasise the principles of cooperative federalism, greater fiscal support from the Centre, and stronger safeguards for rural livelihoods. It is also likely to stress the need for states to retain adequate flexibility in designing and implementing programmes suited to local socio-economic conditions.
The members also reviewed concerns raised by several non-BJP ruled states and certain northeastern states on the additional fiscal burden that may arise from implementation of the proposed legislation. It was pointed out that some states, including Himachal Pradesh, have not yet accepted the new framework.
Speaking during the meeting, Uttam Kumar Reddy recalled that the rural employment guarantee programme was conceived during the UPA government and described MGNREGA as one of the most successful social protection programmes in independent India. He said the scheme was the brainchild of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and had become a model for rural employment and social security.
The minister strongly criticised the proposed removal of Mahatma Gandhi’s name from the programme, describing it as unfortunate and unnecessary. He noted that several farmers’ and labour organisations across the country had voiced opposition to the move. He reiterated the state government’s demand that the Centre withdraw the proposed VB-G RAM G Act and restore the existing MGNREGA framework.
Ministers Danasari ‘Seethakka’ Anasuya, Tummala Nageswara Rao and G. Vivek Venkatswamy participated in the meeting virtually. Special chief secretary, panchayat raj and rural development, M. Dana Kishore and other senior officials attended the meeting.
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