Overview
- Punjab’s Vidhan Sabha unanimously condemned the new VB-G RAM G law that replaces MGNREGA and urged the Centre to restore the rights-based scheme.
- State leaders argued the redesign removes demand-driven guarantees, caps work through central norms, and raises the state share to 40% despite the headline increase to 125 workdays.
- Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said state resolutions against a law passed by Parliament are improper and defended the overhaul’s transparency, technology use, and retention of unemployment allowance.
- The Parliamentary Standing Committee was told the Centre is coordinating with states to curb “fake demand” during the transition and is engaging West Bengal on pending dues, with rules expected to take at least six months to frame.
- Rural workers in Punjab protested and sent letters to the Prime Minister warning that village-by-village notifications and mandatory online attendance could restrict access to work for those without smartphones.