MGNREGA, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, hits 20 years in 2025, but its story began earlier. Enacted in 2005 after heated debates, it officially kicked off on September 7 that year. The spark came from the 2004 National Rural Employment Guarantee Bill under the UPA government. Right from the start, it targeted rural poverty by guaranteeing 100 days of unskilled manual work each year to any willing adult in rural households. Phase one launched in 200 poorest districts by 2006, then spread nationwide.
In two decades, it generated over 3 billion person-days of employment yearly at peaks. Wages climbed from about ₹100 daily to much higher, often beating farm earnings. True to Gandhi’s Gram Swaraj dream, panchayats led the charge on projects like ponds, roads, and water harvesting. Workers demand jobs from the grassroots—get them in 15 days or unemployment allowance. Centre footed the full wage bill, easing state pressures.
Fast forward to December 17, 2025: Lok Sabha sees the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), or VB-G RAM G Bill. It ups work to 125 days, adds farm-season safeguards. Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan pitches it as “Ram Rajya” governance.
Opposition grows loud. Dropping Gandhi’s name fuels RSS legacy talk. It morphs from central act to “centrally sponsored scheme”—60:40 funding (Centre:states), no more full wage cover. Delhi sets fund caps, turning demand-led into supply-driven. Excess demand? States pay up.
Numbers tell the tale. COVID year 2020-21 saw 9.5% households (7.2 million) hit 100 days max. Recent 2023-24 and 2024-25? Just 6-7%. Families average 40-50 days. States groan under GST shifts; Tamil Nadu, Kerala slam it as federalism killer.
Cash transfers like PM-KISAN steal the show politically. Shared costs deter participation. Gram sabha power fades.
Smart fix: season tweaks. Bolt it onto existing law post-state chats, say watchers. Protests mount—rural folks wonder if jobs grow or shrink.
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