G RAM G Clears Parliament, Set to Replace MNREGA: What Is in the New Bill?
Parliament has cleared the G RAM G Bill, paving the way for a major overhaul of India’s rural employment framework. The new legislation is set to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA), marking one of the most significant policy shifts in rural welfare and employment in recent decades.
The passage of the Bill follows intense debate, protests, and sharp disagreements between the government and the opposition, underlining the high political and social stakes involved.
What Is G RAM G?
G RAM G, short for Grameen Rozgar, Awas aur Margdarshan Guarantee, is a new rural development and employment assurance programme aimed at expanding the scope of government support beyond wage employment.
Unlike MNREGA, which primarily focused on providing 100 days of unskilled manual work, G RAM G proposes a broader, outcome-oriented approach that combines employment, skill development, infrastructure creation, and rural asset building.
Why Replace MNREGA?
The government has argued that while MNREGA played a crucial role in providing livelihood security, especially during crises, it has limitations in addressing long-term rural transformation.
Officials cited issues such as:
Focus on temporary wage work rather than sustainable income
Limited skill development opportunities
Rising fiscal burden without proportional asset quality
Delays in wage payments and administrative inefficiencies
The new Bill is positioned as an evolution rather than an abandonment of rural employment guarantees.
Key Features of the G RAM G Bill
Expanded Employment Framework
G RAM G shifts from purely unskilled labour to a mix of skilled, semi-skilled, and community-based work. Beneficiaries may be engaged in:
Rural infrastructure projects
Agricultural value-chain activities
Water conservation and climate-resilient works
Digital and service-based rural tasks
Flexible Workdays
Instead of a fixed 100-day guarantee, the Bill allows states to determine employment days based on local needs, seasonal demand, and project type, subject to central guidelines.
Skill Mapping and Training
A major focus of G RAM G is skill identification at the village level. Workers will be mapped according to aptitude and trained accordingly, enabling them to transition into better-paying and more sustainable livelihoods.
Asset-Centric Development
Projects under G RAM G must result in durable community assets such as irrigation systems, storage facilities, rural roads, and renewable energy units. The aim is to create long-term economic value rather than short-term employment alone.
Technology-Driven Monitoring
The Bill mandates the use of digital platforms for:
Worker registration
Attendance tracking
Fund disbursal
Project monitoring
The government claims this will reduce leakages and delays while improving transparency.
Funding and Implementation
Funding for G RAM G will be shared between the Centre and states, similar to MNREGA, but with stricter performance-linked incentives. States that demonstrate efficient implementation and high-quality asset creation may receive additional allocations.
Local governance bodies, including gram panchayats, will continue to play a central role, though with enhanced oversight mechanisms.
What Happens to Existing MNREGA Workers?
The government has assured that existing MNREGA job card holders will be automatically transitioned into the G RAM G framework. No beneficiary will be excluded during the shift, officials said.
Wage rates, at least in the initial phase, are expected to remain aligned with existing rural wage benchmarks.
Opposition’s Concerns
Opposition parties strongly opposed the Bill, arguing that:
MNREGA’s legal guarantee is being diluted
Flexible workdays could reduce assured employment
Increased reliance on technology may exclude the poorest
States may face additional administrative burden
Some MPs accused the government of weakening a landmark social security law without adequate safeguards.
Government’s Defence
The government countered by saying G RAM G modernises rural welfare and aligns it with changing economic realities. Ministers argued that rural India needs opportunities that go beyond manual labour and that the new framework empowers workers with skills, dignity, and upward mobility.
They also stressed that employment assurance remains central to the Bill.
What This Means for Rural India
If implemented effectively, G RAM G could reshape rural livelihoods by:
Creating sustainable income opportunities
Improving rural infrastructure
Reducing distress migration
Integrating rural workers into the formal economy
However, experts caution that success will depend on smooth implementation, adequate funding, and safeguards to protect vulnerable workers.
Conclusion
The passage of the G RAM G Bill marks a turning point in India’s rural employment policy. By replacing MNREGA with a broader, skill-oriented framework, the government is betting on long-term rural transformation rather than short-term relief.
As the country watches the rollout of this ambitious programme, the real test will lie in whether G RAM G can deliver jobs, dignity, and development to millions who depend on government support for their livelihoods.
