MGNREGA vs. VB-G RAM G: The Name Change Sparking a Political Firestorm
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West Bengal is making a big move to protect Mahatma Gandhi’s name. The thing is, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced that the state’s “Karmashree” scheme will now be named after the Father of the Nation.
Actually, this is a direct protest against the Centre. Specifically, the BJP-led government is replacing MGNREGA with a new bill called VB-G RAM G (Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission).
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As a result, the Mahatma’s name is being dropped from the national rural jobs act. Consequently, Mamata says she feels “deep shame” as a citizen of India (let’s be real, the symbolic war is heating up).
And here’s the kicker. The Chief Minister isn’t just changing the name. In fact, she vowed to expand workdays under the state scheme to 100 days.
Basically, she claims the state will do this even if central funds stay blocked. Instead of backing down, West Bengal is taking a “we are not beggars” stance.
[Field Note: The new central bill, VB-G RAM G, reportedly increases workdays to 125 but changes how funds are shared with states. I checked, and Bengal still has ₹52,000 crore in pending dues (those too).]
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Karmashree Update: Currently offers 75 days of work; set to increase to 100.
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BJP Response: State chief Samik Bhattacharya accused the TMC of “looting” central funds in the past while using Gandhi’s name as a shield.
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The “RAM G” Link: Opposition leaders like Shashi Tharoor noted that “Gram Swaraj” and “Ram Rajya” were twin pillars of Gandhi’s faith, making the name scrub unnecessary.
Moreover, the BJP is standing its ground. Specifically, they claim PM Modi’s efforts have actually brought Gandhi’s dreams to reality.
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Actually, they argue that the new VB-G RAM G framework is a modern reform. As a result, the political divide in Bengal has widened even further.
Consequently, the Father of the Nation is now at the center of a heated branding battle. Instead of a quiet legislative shift, this has become a full-blown “respect” war between Kolkata and Delhi.
The thing is, this happens right in the middle of a business conclave. Actually, Mamata challenged the Centre by saying, “We will demonstrate what true respect means.”
In fact, the TMC is painting this as a fight for Bengal’s dignity. Basically, the Cabinet bill is expected to be tabled very soon.
The BJP has already started organizing counter-protests across the state. expect the rural job guarantee debate to dominate the 2026 election cycle….
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