Image is for representational purposes only. | Photo credit: The Hindu
The Ministry of Rural Development on Monday (December 29, 2025) informed a parliamentary standing committee that it is coordinating with state governments to ensure that no “false demand” is raised under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) during the transition period before the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi Act. Viksit Bharat – Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Guarantee (Gramin) UK – G RAM G Act, 2025new legislation to replace the rural employment guarantee scheme.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development, headed by Congress President Saptagirim Ulaka, met for the first time on Monday (December 29, 2025) following the repeal of MGNREGA by Parliament on December 18.
During the meeting, sources said, Samajwadi Party MP Ramashankar Rajbhar asked the ministry to explain how it planned to address demand during the transition period when the new law was implemented and MGNREGA was phased out. Since MGNREGA was a demand-driven scheme, he pointed out, the government could not artificially suppress the demand. In response, ministry officials reportedly said they were coordinating with states to ensure no “bogus demand” was raised. The chairman of the panel, Mr Ulaka, and other members questioned the government on how it planned to differentiate between real and fake demand.
The meeting, which lasted nearly two hours, saw several BJP members criticizing MGNREGA. According to sources, several BJP members detailed the various welfare schemes run by the Center as well as the states that provide “free health and free food”, arguing that the rural employment scheme has become redundant in such a scenario. Other BJP MPs, sources said, flagged cases of corruption affecting the rural employment scheme.
West Bengal Charges
The government also informed the jury that it is in touch with the West Bengal government and will settle the dues owed to the state. However, neither the amount owed nor the release timeline was shared. Trinamool Congress members staged an overnight dharna in Parliament after the Viksit Bharat G Ram G Bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha after midnight.
The release of funds to West Bengal under the scheme was stopped in March 2022 by the Center invoking the provisions of Section 27 of the Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 due to the state’s continued non-compliance with central government directives. The Center owes ₹3,082.52 crore to the states, of which ₹1,457.22 crore was wages for completed work of registered workers.
Published – 29 Dec 2025 20:18 IST
