Bengaluru, 22 Dec

Karnataka’s Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Priyank Kharge, has issued a sharp critique of the Union Government’s G RAM G Act 2025. Kharge claims the new legislation, which replaces the long-standing MGNREGA, systematically undermines the core promise of rights-based rural employment, warning that the bill threatens the future of rural livelihoods.

The minister said that under the new act, the Centre would retain most decision-making powers, while states would have to bear the bulk of the financial and administrative burden. Kharge also warned that the proposed changes would erode the financial autonomy of state governments, especially as states face shrinking resources. He noted that tax devolution to states had fallen even as centrally sponsored schemes become more restrictive.

Kharge alleged accused Prime Minister Modi of purposely destroying that Act to make poor villagers and farm labourers slaves to rich people. "Therefore, we (Congress) fought for the retention of the original MGNREGA. I condemn the new Act. It is only helping the government," the Congress chief said.

G RAM G Act 2025 is a comprehensive overhaul of India's rural employment policy that replaces the MGNREGA, increasing the statutory guarantee of wage employment from 100 to 125 days per year while shifting to a cost-sharing funding model between the Centre and States.