Summary
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has refuted claims that the new rural employment law, Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act, is not universal. He clarified that the law remains universal and demand-driven, dismissing allegations made by Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge. Mr. Chouhan emphasized that the government has strengthened the law, allocating ₹9 lakh crore under MGNREGA, compared to the UPA government's ₹2 lakh crore. He also stated that instead of 100 days, the government is now providing 125 days of work.
Full Analysis
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has refuted claims that the new rural employment law, Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act, is not universal. He clarified that the law remains universal and demand-driven, dismissing allegations made by Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge. Mr. Chouhan emphasized that the government has strengthened the law, allocating ₹9 lakh crore under MGNREGA, compared to the UPA government's ₹2 lakh crore. He also stated that instead of 100 days, the government is now providing 125 days of work.
Background Context
The roots of rural employment programs in India can be traced back to the early community development programs initiated in the 1950s. However, a more structured approach began with schemes like the National Rural Employment Programme (NREP) in 1980 and the Rural Landless Employment Guarantee Programme (RLEGP) in 1983. These programs aimed to provide wage employment to the rural poor. The Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana (SGRY) in 2001 consolidated earlier efforts. The enactment of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in 2005 marked a paradigm shift, legally guaranteeing 100 days of wage employment to rural households. Over the years, MGNREGA has evolved, incorporating provisions for social audits, grievance redressal, and a focus on asset creation. The Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act represents the latest iteration in this ongoing evolution, building upon the foundation laid by MGNREGA while aiming for enhanced livelihood opportunities and rural development.
Current Developments
In recent years, there has been increasing emphasis on convergence of MGNREGA with other rural development schemes to maximize impact. Focus has also shifted towards durable asset creation and improving the quality of assets created under the scheme. There's been a growing debate on the effectiveness of MGNREGA in poverty reduction and its impact on rural wages. The government has been exploring options to enhance the efficiency of the scheme through technological interventions, such as geo-tagging of assets and direct benefit transfer. The introduction of the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act signals a potential shift towards a more comprehensive and demand-driven approach to rural employment, with a focus on providing 125 days of work. Future developments are likely to center on strengthening the convergence of various schemes, enhancing monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, and addressing concerns related to wage rates and timely payments.
Practice MCQs
Question 1
Consider the following statements regarding the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act:
1. It aims to provide 125 days of wage employment to rural households.
2. The act is demand-driven, ensuring employment based on the needs of rural communities.
3. The act replaces the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Explanation: Statements 1 and 2 are correct. The VB-G RAM G Act aims to provide 125 days of employment and is demand-driven. Statement 3 is incorrect as the act builds upon and strengthens MGNREGA, rather than replacing it.
Question 2
Which of the following is NOT a key feature of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)?
- Legal guarantee of 100 days of wage employment to rural households
- Focus on asset creation in rural areas
- Provision for unemployment allowance if work is not provided within 15 days
- Mandatory skill development training for all registered workers
Explanation: Options A, B, and C are key features of MGNREGA. Option D is incorrect as MGNREGA does not mandate skill development training for all registered workers, although skill enhancement is often integrated into the program.
Question 3
Assertion (A): The Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act aims to strengthen rural livelihoods through demand-driven employment.
Reason (R): The act focuses on providing 125 days of work, addressing seasonal unemployment and promoting sustainable asset creation.
In the context of the above statements, which of the following is correct?
- Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
- Both A and R are true, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A
- A is true, but R is false
- A is false, but R is true
Explanation: Both the assertion and the reason are true, and the reason correctly explains the assertion. The VB-G RAM G Act aims to strengthen rural livelihoods through demand-driven employment, and providing 125 days of work is a key component of this strategy.
Previous Year Questions
PYQ 1 - UPSC Prelims 2024 2024
Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act, as clarified by the Union Minister?
- (a) The Act is not universal and targets specific rural areas.
- (b) The Act is demand-driven and universal.
- (c) The Act replaces MGNREGA.
- (d) The Act provides only 100 days of work.
Explanation: The Union Minister clarified that the VB-G RAM G Act remains universal and demand-driven. This means it is available to all eligible rural citizens based on their demand for work.
PYQ 2 - UPSC Mains 2024 2024
Discuss the significance of the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act in addressing rural unemployment and promoting inclusive growth. Also, analyze the potential challenges in its effective implementation.
PYQ 3 - SSC CGL 2024 2024
Under the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), how many days of work are currently being provided?
- (a) 100 days
- (b) 120 days
- (c) 125 days
- (d) 150 days
Explanation: The government is now providing 125 days of work under the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar Ajeevika Mission (Gramin).
PYQ 4 - SSC CHSL 2024 2024
What is the allocated amount under MGNREGA as stated by the Union Minister in relation to the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar Ajeevika Mission (Gramin)?
- (a) ₹2 lakh crore
- (b) ₹5 lakh crore
- (c) ₹7 lakh crore
- (d) ₹9 lakh crore
Explanation: The Union Minister stated that the government has allocated ₹9 lakh crore under MGNREGA.
PYQ 5 - IBPS PO 2024 2024
Which of the following statements is true regarding the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act?
- (a) It is not universal and targets only specific states.
- (b) It is demand-driven and universal, providing 125 days of work.
- (c) It provides 100 days of work and is not demand-driven.
- (d) It replaces MGNREGA completely.
Explanation: The VB-G RAM G Act is demand-driven and universal, providing 125 days of work, as clarified by the Union Minister.
PYQ 6 - SBI PO 2024 2024
The allocation under MGNREGA has been increased to ₹9 lakh crore under the current government. This increase is aimed at:
- (a) Reducing the scope of rural employment programs.
- (b) Strengthening rural employment and livelihood opportunities.
- (c) Shifting funds to urban development projects.
- (d) Decreasing the number of workdays provided.
Explanation: The increased allocation is aimed at strengthening rural employment and livelihood opportunities, as emphasized by the government.
PYQ 7 - CDS 2024 2024
Which of the following best describes the nature of the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act?
- (a) A centrally sponsored scheme targeting urban poverty.
- (b) A state-funded program focused on skill development.
- (c) A demand-driven and universal rural employment law.
- (d) A scheme providing subsidized food grains in rural areas.
Explanation: The VB-G RAM G Act is a demand-driven and universal rural employment law, as clarified by the Union Minister.
PYQ 8 - CDS 2024 2024
The Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act aims to provide:
- (a) 100 days of guaranteed employment in urban areas.
- (b) 120 days of guaranteed employment in rural areas.
- (c) 125 days of guaranteed employment in rural areas.
- (d) 150 days of guaranteed employment in urban areas.
Explanation: The government is providing 125 days of guaranteed employment in rural areas under the VB-G RAM G Act.