Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has made a direct appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging the central government to abandon its plan to implement the proposed VB-G RAM G legislation. In a letter dispatched on Thursday, Stalin warned that the bill would severely curtail the development autonomy of states and damage the fabric of grassroots democracy.
Core Concerns: Federal Overreach and Livelihood Threats
Stalin articulated that the proposed law is not merely a policy shift but a move that "will jeopardize the livelihoods of crores of the rural poor". He emphasized that performing states like Tamil Nadu would be disproportionately affected. The Chief Minister framed the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) as a cornerstone of rural livelihood security in India, arguing it should not be replaced by the 'G RAM G' framework.
He provided concrete data to underscore MGNREGA's critical role in Tamil Nadu's economy. The scheme generates an average of 30 crore person-days of employment annually in the state, with wages amounting to roughly ₹12,000 crore disbursed each year. Stalin highlighted the state's specific vulnerabilities—long non-rainy periods, a lack of perennial rivers for irrigation, and a high dependency on wage employment—making MGNREGA crucial for economically weaker sections, including Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities.
Contradictory Provisions and Financial Strain
While acknowledging the positive proposal to increase guaranteed working days to 125 per year, Stalin asserted that other provisions in the bill fundamentally undermine the scheme's core principles. He warned that these changes would impose severe financial burdens on state governments and further erode the spirit of federalism in India's governance structure.
"These changes will adversely affect the finances of states and the livelihoods of millions of poor rural labourers across the country," Stalin stated in his letter. His opposition is rooted in the belief that the new bill transfers undue financial and operational pressure onto state administrations, straining inter-governmental relations.
Political Rebuke of AIADMK's Stance
The Chief Minister also took the opportunity to criticize the opposition AIADMK's position on the matter. He singled out AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) for supporting the Union government's move. Stalin characterized EPS's welcome of the decision as "an unforgivable act of betrayal" towards rural women and poor agricultural labourers whose livelihoods are safeguarded by MGNREGA.
This political dimension adds a layer of state-level contention to the national policy debate, framing the issue as one of both administrative concern and partisan alignment. The letter from the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister sets a firm state government stance against the proposed central legislation, highlighting the ongoing tensions in centre-state dynamics regarding welfare schemes and financial autonomy.
