Political opposition in Tamil Nadu has solidified against the Union government's proposal to rename the flagship rural jobs scheme, with parties across the spectrum condemning the move as an attempt to erase Mahatma Gandhi's legacy. The proposal to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) with the 'Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill 2025' has sparked widespread criticism in the state.
Cross-Alliance Condemnation and Planned Protest
The resistance gained significant momentum after Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president K Selvaperunthagai announced a protest by INDIA bloc parties against the BJP-led central government on December 18. Selvaperunthagai accused the BJP of acting with vengeance against Gandhi and the Congress party, which originally introduced the scheme. "The bid to change the name is a result of that," he stated.
This sentiment was echoed by other regional players. The PMK and the DMDK have also publicly opposed the name change, creating a rare moment of unity among parties outside the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the state. Following a strong critique from Chief Minister M K Stalin, State Rural Development Minister I Periyasamy issued a detailed statement. He alleged the BJP wants to "tarnish the reputation" of both Gandhi and the Congress by replacing MGNREGS.
Allegations of Deception and Reduced Funding
Minister Periyasamy leveled serious charges against the central government, linking the renaming to a broader pattern. He pointed out that the BJP began celebrating Swachh Bharat Day on October 2, which he claims was an attempt to divert attention from Gandhi's birth anniversary. More critically, he argued that the new scheme deceives people by promising more benefits while actually reducing financial support.
"It says that it would increase the number of working days to 125 annually. But, the allocation for the scheme has been reduced from 98,000 crore to 60,000 crore in 2023-24," Periyasamy highlighted. He explained that due to this fund reduction, the actual number of workdays provided had already plummeted from 100 to 40 in many cases. The minister further revealed that Tamil Nadu is yet to receive pending dues of 4,000 crore under MGNREGS from the Union government.
Mixed Reactions on Provisions, Unified Opposition on Name
While opposing the name change, some parties showed a nuanced view of the proposed provisions. PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss criticized both the renaming and the reduction of the Centre's share of fund allocation to 60%. However, he welcomed the decision to extend the number of guaranteed workdays to 125. DMDK general secretary Premalatha Vijayakant also opposed the proposal outright.
The protest moved to the national capital as well, with VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan joining other INDIA bloc MPs in a demonstration against the issue within Parliament on Tuesday. This coordinated action at both state and national levels underscores the depth of political resistance the proposal is facing from Tamil Nadu.
The controversy has shifted focus to the central government's management of the rural employment scheme, with critics in Tamil Nadu framing the renaming not as an upgrade but as a politically motivated dilution of a seminal social welfare program linked to the Father of the Nation.
