Jaipur: Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Wednesday launched a robust defence of the state's newly enacted Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025. He accused the opposition Congress party of spreading misinformation to confuse the public about the landmark legislation.
CM Counters Congress, Highlights MGNREGA's Flaws
Addressing a press conference at the Chief Minister's Office, Sharma stated that while the Congress-introduced Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) was designed to provide rural job security, its execution was severely compromised. He blamed poor administration and systemic corruption during previous Congress-led governments for undermining the scheme's potential.
"The Congress is trying to confuse the public with misleading and malicious allegations about the VB-G RAM G Act," Sharma asserted. He detailed a list of alleged failures under the old system, including the creation of temporary assets with no long-term value, such as poorly built roads and incomplete water structures that did not align with village development plans.
The Chief Minister pointed to deeper systemic issues within MGNREGA's implementation. He cited problems like fake and duplicate job cards, fictitious worker attendance, and irregularities in wage payments. Social audits, meant to ensure transparency, had become a mere formality due to the lack of a strong investigation mechanism, he claimed. Furthermore, critical provisions like unemployment allowance and compensation for delayed wage payments largely remained unimplemented.
Key Reforms in the New Viksit Bharat Guarantee Act
Sharma positioned the new Act as a comprehensive solution to these historical shortcomings. He described it as a significant step in cooperative federalism, with state governments bearing 40% of the responsibility in its implementation, thereby enhancing accountability.
The financial model under the new law is designed to be more sustainable and accountable, with a clear and fixed annual budget. States can also receive additional allocations of up to Rs 17,000 crore based on demand and performance.
Several key reforms were highlighted by the CM:
- Weekly wage payments will be mandatory, with automatic compensation triggered if payments are delayed beyond two weeks.
- The administrative expenditure limit has been increased from 6% to 9% to better support staffing, technical expertise, training, and robust monitoring systems.
- The Act mandates the creation of permanent, quality rural assets, aligning employment generation with the broader Viksit Bharat (Developed India) roadmap.
- States will have the flexibility to declare a 60-day work break during peak farming seasons, benefiting small farmers who also work as labourers.
Focus on Transparency and Asset Creation
The new scheme will concentrate on works in critical areas like water resources, core rural infrastructure, livelihood infrastructure, and disaster management. To ensure transparency and curb corruption, the government will leverage technology extensively.
Geo-tagging, satellite imagery, mobile applications, and AI will be used to monitor projects. Mandatory social audits will be conducted every six months, backed by complete digital records. A time-bound, multi-level digital grievance redressal system and a district ombudsman mechanism will also be established to address public complaints promptly.
Chief Minister Sharma concluded by asserting that the Viksit Bharat Guarantee Act, 2025, represents a transformative shift from a wage distribution program to a mission focused on sustainable rural development and asset creation, with accountability at its core.
