In a significant policy overhaul aimed at cleansing systemic corruption, Mysore Member of Parliament Yaduveer Wadiyar has announced the restructuring of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) into a new initiative named the VB-G Ram G project.
Addressing Systemic Flaws and Massive Irregularities
Addressing the media in Mandya, MP Yaduveer Wadiyar stated that the reformulation of the scheme was imperative to correct deep-rooted flaws in the earlier system. He emphasized that the primary objectives of the new VB-G Ram G act are to ensure greater transparency and prevent the large-scale misappropriation of public funds that plagued MGNREGA.
The MP leveled serious allegations against the implementation of the previous scheme, citing widespread irregularities across several states. He specifically pointed to the creation of fake job cards, the inclusion of ghost beneficiaries, and the fabrication of muster rolls. Furthermore, he highlighted the malpractice of making only partial wage payments to laborers, depriving them of their rightful earnings.
"Such corrupt practices have led to the misappropriation of thousands of crores of rupees," Wadiyar asserted. He named states including West Bengal, Punjab, and Telangana as places where these malpractices were rampant, resulting in a massive drain on the national exchequer.
Unintended Consequences for Farmers and Symbolic Provisions
Beyond corruption, the Mysore MP also outlined other critical failures of the old MGNREGA framework. He noted a major operational flaw where MGNREGA works often coincided with peak agricultural seasons. This timing created an artificial labour shortage for small and marginal farmers, subsequently driving up their cultivation costs and adversely affecting agricultural productivity.
Wadiyar also criticized the poor implementation of safety net provisions within MGNREGA. Although the law mandated an unemployment allowance and compensation for delayed wage payments, he stated these clauses remained largely symbolic and were rarely executed on the ground, failing to protect the very workers the scheme was designed to help.
Key Features of the New VB-G Ram G Scheme
Explaining the revamped project, Yaduveer Wadiyar detailed its enhanced benefits. A major improvement is the increase in the number of guaranteed employment days. The VB-G Ram G scheme raises the guarantee from 100 days to 125 days per household per year, offering more substantial livelihood support to rural families.
The new act is designed with a strong focus on eliminating the loopholes that allowed corruption to thrive. It promises stricter monitoring and a technology-driven approach to maintain accurate records of beneficiaries and work completed. The implementation will be carried out in close coordination with state governments to ensure seamless execution and accountability.
The announcement was made in the presence of local BJP leaders, including district president Indresh and District Raitha Morcha president Ashok, signaling political support for the restructuring effort aimed at revitalizing India's flagship rural employment program.
