High drama erupted in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday as the government pushed through a landmark bill aimed at overhauling the country's flagship rural employment guarantee scheme. The Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, or VB-G RAM Bill, which seeks to replace the two-decade-old Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), was passed following an intense eight-hour debate marked by sharp protests from the opposition.
Chaos and Protests in the House
The passage of the bill was anything but smooth. The opposition demanded that the proposed legislation be sent to a standing committee for deeper scrutiny. As Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan rose to speak after the bill's passage, the scene turned chaotic. Opposition members disrupted the proceedings, accusing the government of erasing Mahatma Gandhi's name from the seminal rural employment program.
The protest escalated dramatically as several MPs rushed to the well of the House. In a symbolic act of defiance, they tore copies of the bill and flung the pieces into the air. The dramatic gesture brought the House to a standstill, highlighting the deep political divide over the new legislation.
Speaker's Admonition and Minister's Defence
Intervening to restore order, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla stated that the bill had been discussed at length and all parliamentary procedures were followed. He sternly reminded the protesting members, "The people have not sent you here to tear paper. The nation is watching you."
Speaking in strong support of the bill, Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched a pointed attack on the Congress party. He stated that the Congress had a history of naming laws after Jawaharlal Nehru and was now objecting to the NDA government's approach. Chouhan was responding to Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi's accusation that the Centre has a "craze" for renaming schemes.
Chouhan asserted that the Modi government was focused on governance and outcomes rather than nomenclature. He also criticized the old MGNREGA scheme, describing it as a mechanism riddled with corruption, and emphasized that the new VB-G RAM Bill was formulated after extensive consultations with various stakeholders.
The Path Forward for the VB-G RAM Bill
Despite the fiery protests and disruptions, the legislation was ultimately cleared by the Lok Sabha. The bill is now set to be introduced in the Rajya Sabha for consideration, where it is expected to face further debate. The proposed law marks a significant shift in India's rural employment policy, aiming to replace a scheme that has been a cornerstone of the social safety net for millions with a new framework focused on "Viksit Bharat" (Developed India).
The day's events underscore the intense political battle over welfare schemes and legacy, setting the stage for continued confrontation as the bill moves to the upper house of Parliament.
