Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, launched a sharp attack on the Congress party on Saturday, accusing it of deliberately spreading false information about the government's new Viksit Bharat-Gramin (VB-G) Ram G initiative. He asserted that the scheme is significantly more beneficial for farmers and rural workers than the previous Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
Chouhan Counters Allegations with Facts
Addressing the media, the senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader dismissed the opposition's criticism as baseless. Shivraj Singh Chouhan emphasized that the VB-G Ram G scheme is designed to provide sustainable income and holistic development, unlike MGNREGA which he described as limited to offering temporary wage employment. He presented data to argue that the new program offers better financial security and skill development opportunities for beneficiaries in rural India.
The minister pointed out specific features where VB-G Ram G outperforms its predecessor. He claimed that while MGNREGA guarantees 100 days of unskilled manual work per household, the new scheme focuses on creating durable community assets, promoting local entrepreneurship, and integrating technology for efficient implementation. "It is a forward-looking scheme for a Viksit Bharat," Chouhan stated.
Political Battle Over Rural Welfare
The controversy erupted after Congress leaders questioned the timing and intent of the VB-G Ram G launch, alleging it was an election-year gimmick. They accused the ruling dispensation of renaming and repackaging old schemes without substantial new benefits for the poor.
Chouhan, however, turned the tables by listing the alleged failures of Congress-era programs. He challenged the opposition to a public debate on the comparative outcomes of MGNREGA and the new VB-G Ram G. The former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister's strong defense indicates the political importance of this scheme in the government's outreach to the crucial rural voter base.
Key aspects of the VB-G Ram G scheme, as highlighted by the Minister, include:
- Higher average daily wages compared to MGNREGA rates.
- Mandatory skill training components linked to work.
- Digital tracking of projects and payments to reduce corruption.
- Focus on creating infrastructure that boosts agricultural productivity.
Looking Ahead: Implications for Rural India
The forceful rebuttal from a senior minister like Shivraj Chouhan signals the government's determination to control the narrative on rural development. By positioning VB-G Ram G as a superior successor to MGNREGA, the BJP aims to claim the mantle of being the true pro-farmer party.
Political analysts suggest this war of words is just the beginning of a larger debate on the effectiveness of welfare schemes as the country moves forward. The success of VB-G Ram G's on-ground implementation will ultimately determine whether the government's claims hold water against the opposition's charges of misinformation.
As of now, the central government is mobilizing its administrative machinery to roll out the scheme across states, making the farmer and rural welfare a central plank of its developmental agenda.
