New Delhi, Dec 15 (NationPress) Congress MP Shashi Tharoor expressed that the debate regarding the suggested renaming of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) is “unfortunate”, warning against the creation of a false ideological divide that could undermine the legacy of the Father of the Nation.

In response to the government's proposal of a new rural employment law, Tharoor emphasized that the principles being referenced are not conflicting.

“The controversy surrounding the renaming of MGNREGA in the government’s new G-RAM-G Bill is unfortunate. The concept of Gram Swaraj and the ideal of Ram Rajya are not opposing forces; they are the twin pillars of Gandhiji’s philosophy,” he remarked in a post on X.

“To replace the Mahatma’s name in a scheme aimed at supporting the rural poor disregards this significant connection. His last moments were a testament to ‘Ram’; we must not dishonour his legacy by fostering a division that does not exist,” Tharoor continued.

These comments arise as the government is set to introduce the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025, abbreviated as G-RAM-G, in the Lok Sabha.

The proposed law is designed to replace the nearly two-decade-old MGNREGA and significantly overhaul the rural employment structure in India.

The Congress party has vehemently opposed any attempt to rename MGNREGA, accusing the government of trying to dilute Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy. Party leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra questioned the reasoning behind such a renaming initiative, alerting that it would incur unnecessary public expenses.

“Renaming everything from offices to stationery is an extensive and costly endeavor. What is the point of doing this without need?” she inquired.

The proposed Bill intends to increase the guaranteed number of employment days for rural families from 100 to 125 annually. This new legislation, formally titled The Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill, 2025, will also integrate AI-driven systems for fraud detection and enforce stricter social audit practices, including biannual audits in every Gram Panchayat to enhance transparency and accountability.

Officials from the Rural Development Ministry highlighted that the legislation aims not only to generate rural employment but also to deliver direct benefits to farmers by ensuring timely labor access and improving agricultural infrastructure through better-coordinated asset creation.

According to the bill listed in the supplementary business agenda issued on Monday, the G-RAM-G Bill aims to rectify structural weaknesses in the existing system, broaden employment opportunities, and ensure a closer alignment of rural asset development with national development objectives.