Union Minister for Rural Development and Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday launched a sharp attack on the Congress leadership, accusing it of abandoning its ideas, ideology and ideals, and of spreading falsehoods to mislead the country on the newly announced Viksit Bharat G RAM G scheme.
Addressing a press conference, Chouhan said the letter issued by the All India Congress Committee was filled with deception and deliberate misinformation. He alleged that Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and leader of the opposition Rahul Gandhi were attempting to create confusion and fear among the public, despite the scheme being a decisive step towards strengthening the lives of the poor, workers and villages under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Chouhan said Congress, which once raised slogans of nation first and Garibi Hatao, has completely drifted from those commitments. He argued that while the party spoke of poverty eradication in the past, it ultimately pushed the poor to the margins. In contrast, he said, more than 25 crore people have been lifted out of poverty during the tenure of the present government.
Rejecting Congress claims that the soul of MGNREGA had been destroyed, the minister said the earlier UPA regime gave rights only on paper, whereas the current government has ensured delivery on the ground. He explained that under the earlier dis entitlement clause, workers who demanded employment but could not take it up for any reason were denied unemployment allowance. This provision, he said, has been removed, making unemployment allowance real and enforceable.
Citing data, Chouhan said nearly 10 crore assets have been created under MGNREGA so far, of which around 8.5 crore were built during the tenure of the Modi government, with a focus on productive use. He added that while Congress and UPA governments together spent about two lakh crore rupees on the scheme, the current government has spent nearly nine lakh crore rupees, including more than one lakh eleven thousand crore rupees during the COVID period alone.
Explaining the contours of the new Viksit Bharat G RAM G scheme, Chouhan said it guarantees 125 days of employment instead of 100 days. Workers will have the right to employment, unemployment allowance within 15 days if work is not provided, compensation for delayed wage payments and full protection of labour rights.
He dismissed claims that employment under the scheme would be restricted to select panchayats, stating that the law will be implemented simultaneously across the country and no Gram Panchayat will be excluded. He said works will be identified through developed Gram Panchayat plans, with Gram Sabhas and Panchayats deciding local priorities. At least 50 percent of works, he added, will be executed through Gram Panchayats rather than contractors.
Chouhan also rejected fears that mates, employment assistants and technical staff would lose their jobs. He said administrative expenditure has been raised from six percent to nine percent to ensure timely and adequate honorariums for field level personnel. For the coming financial year, a proposed allocation of one lakh fifty one thousand two hundred eighty two crore rupees has been made, with over ninety five thousand six hundred crore rupees to be contributed by the Centre.
Responding to concerns over the 60 40 Centre State funding ratio, the minister said the argument was misplaced. Drawing on his experience as a former chief minister, he said development funds had never been a constraint. He pointed out that earlier annual spending on the scheme never crossed forty thousand crore rupees, whereas today the Centre alone is contributing over ninety five thousand six hundred crore rupees, making it a strong investment in rural infrastructure rather than a burden on states.
On allegations that the demand driven nature of the scheme was being diluted, Chouhan said the model remains demand driven. He argued that earlier, unproductive works were often undertaken, whereas under the new framework, Gram Panchayats will identify meaningful works such as farm roads and village infrastructure, while ensuring employment wherever demanded along with unemployment allowance where applicable.
Responding to Congress’ announcement of a campaign against the scheme, Chouhan said the government and organisation are already among the people, engaging directly in villages and Gram Sabhas to place facts before the public. He said those unsettled by the truth were speaking of agitation, while the government’s position was already clear to citizens.
Reiterating the vision of a developed India, Chouhan said this goal can only be achieved through developed villages. He described the Viksit Bharat G RAM G scheme as a comprehensive initiative strengthening employment, rural infrastructure, welfare of the poor and the rural economy, and said it would be implemented nationwide within six months after a smooth transition from MGNREGA.
He added that small and marginal farmers, who make up more than 85 percent of the farming community, will directly benefit from the scheme. Labour availability during sowing and harvesting seasons, he said, will improve farm productivity and create a stronger convergence between workers and farmers, giving new direction to agriculture and allied activities.
