Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has come out strongly in defence of the state's new rural employment guarantee act, positioning it as a corruption-free successor to the previous Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
New Scheme Aims to Rectify Past Failures
Addressing a press conference at the state BJP office in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday, Majhi, accompanied by party president Manmohan Samal, outlined the core objectives of the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee Rozgar Ajeevika Mission Gramin (VB-G RAM G) Act. He stated the legislation is fundamentally designed to protect the rights of farmers and workers while systematically rooting out the corruption that he claims plagued MGNREGA.
The Chief Minister accused opposition parties of deliberately attempting to malign the new job guarantee programme. He launched a sharp critique of the previous United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, alleging it exploited Mahatma Gandhi's name for political gains when it rebranded the scheme in 2009 without making substantive improvements.
Majhi highlighted that MGNREGA consistently failed to deliver its core promise of 100 days of guaranteed employment, with the average days of work provided between 2021 and 2025 being only about 50. He attributed these shortcomings to deep-seated administrative flaws and seasonal constraints that were never adequately addressed.
A Legacy of Scams and Fraud
The CM provided specific examples to justify the need for a new system. He pointed to a massive Rs 6,000 crore scam that rocked Bihar in 2012. Furthermore, he cited a Rs 10,000 crore fraud in Uttar Pradesh in 2011 linked to fake job cards. Closer to home, Majhi revealed a disturbing case from Odisha's Sambalpur district in 2024, where jobs and benefits under the old scheme were fraudulently issued in the names of deceased persons, the sick, and pensioners.
"The new programme addresses these fundamental flaws and genuinely strives to fulfil Mahatma Gandhi's vision of Swarajya, without misusing his name for narrow political purposes," Majhi asserted.
Technology and Enhanced Benefits
Outlining the improvements, Majhi emphasized that the VB-G RAM G Act leverages technology to create transparency and curb corruption at its source. A significant enhancement is the increase in guaranteed work days. While MGNREGA promised 100 days, the new scheme guarantees 125 days of work to eligible beneficiaries.
The Chief Minister also stressed a renewed focus on creating durable rural assets. The scheme will ensure wages reach genuine beneficiaries while mandating that projects contribute to permanent infrastructure like roads, irrigation facilities, and community assets. This dual emphasis on eradicating corruption and strengthening rural asset creation, Majhi said, would transform the scheme into a true instrument of rural empowerment.
Linking the initiative to the national vision, he stated that VB-G RAM G aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's goal of building a developed India (Viksit Bharat) by 2047. The act represents a critical step toward ensuring that economic growth and employment guarantees reach the grassroots level effectively and honestly.
