Veteran Congress leader and former Union minister Paban Singh Ghatowar launched a sharp critique on Saturday against the Central government's decision to rename the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). He labeled the move as both 'unfortunate and surprising' during a press interaction in Dibrugarh, Assam.
A Direct Attack on the Rebranding Move
The former five-time MP from Dibrugarh voiced his strong disapproval at the Rajiv Bhavan. The scheme is now rechristened as the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Grameen), or VB-G RAM G. Ghatowar questioned the underlying intention behind omitting Mahatma Gandhi's name from a program that has provided livelihood security to millions of rural households.
"What is the intention behind removing the Father of the Nation’s name from a programme that has been instrumental in providing livelihood security to millions of rural families?" he asked, directly challenging the government's motives. He emphasized that MGNREGA, launched during the UPA government's tenure, remains one of India's most pivotal social security initiatives, guaranteeing 100 days of wage employment annually.
Erasing Legacy and Gandhian Principles
Ghatowar, who also served as the Union minister for Development of the North Eastern Region (DoNER), argued that this is not a mere cosmetic change. "This reflects an attempt to erase the legacy and contributions of previous governments," he stated. He highlighted the scheme's role as a lifeline for the rural poor, especially during crises like the Covid-19 pandemic.
He connected the scheme's core philosophy directly to Gandhian values. "Mahatma Gandhi believed in empowering the rural masses. This scheme embodied his vision. To strip away his name is to disregard our nation’s foundational values of dignity of labour and social welfare," Ghatowar added. He insisted that removing Gandhi's name diminishes the very principles the program was built upon.
Amid a Broader Political Debate
This criticism emerges amidst a widening political debate over the ruling dispensation's pattern of rebranding and renaming schemes introduced by earlier administrations. Opposition parties and critics frequently allege that such moves are politically motivated attempts to claim credit for long-standing welfare programs.
The rebranding to VB-G RAM G aligns with the Centre's overarching 'Viksit Bharat' or 'Developed India' vision, which aims to transform the nation by 2047. However, leaders like Ghatowar and other opposition figures consistently question whether such name changes serve any substantive purpose beyond altering political optics and undermining historical contributions.
