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Telangana Assembly has passed a resolution rejecting the Centre’s move to replace MGNREGA, triggering sharp political clashes. Why does the state say the new law hurts women and the poor and what does this mean for rural workers ahead?
CM A Revanth Reddy said the new law adversely affects the rights of the poor
Hyderabad: The Telangana Legislative Assembly on Friday passed a resolution opposing the Centre’s move to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) with the proposed VB G RAM G Act. The resolution was adopted amid strong objections from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators, who voted against the motion.
Moving the resolution, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy argued that the proposed legislation would weaken the rights of rural workers, particularly the poor and women. He said the new framework would impose additional financial pressure on states and undermine the spirit of federalism.
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The Chief Minister demanded that the existing funding pattern under MGNREGA be retained and the law continued in its present form. He also criticised the removal of Mahatma Gandhi’s name from the proposed legislation, alleging that it diluted the values and spirit associated with the rural employment scheme.
Revanth Reddy claimed that provisions in the VB G RAM G Act, including a proposed 60-day pause in employment during the agricultural season, would adversely affect landless labourers who depend on year-round work. He stressed that employment under the scheme should remain available throughout the year to protect vulnerable families.
Highlighting differences between the two laws, the Chief Minister pointed out that while MGNREGA allows nearly 266 types of works, the new legislation removes several key activities, including land development. He said this would harm small and marginal farmers, as well as Dalits and tribal communities, and called for the continuation of the existing list of permissible works.
BJP leaders opposed the resolution, arguing that the VB G RAM G Act aligns with Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of “Gram Swaraj” or village self-rule. BJP floor leader A Maheshwar Reddy said the provision to halt work during peak agricultural seasons would help farmers by addressing labour shortages.
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However, the ruling Congress, supported by Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and Panchayat Raj Minister D Anasuya Seethakka, strongly defended MGNREGA, describing it as a lifeline for rural households.
The debate saw sharp exchanges after CPI MLA Kunamneni Sambasiva Rao made remarks critical of the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, triggering protests from BJP members. Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar assured the House that any objectionable comments would be reviewed and expunged from the official records.
The resolution noted that nearly 90 per cent of MGNREGA beneficiaries in Telangana belong to SC, ST and backward communities, with women accounting for around 62 per cent. Citing these figures, the Assembly resolved that MGNREGA should continue unchanged to safeguard the livelihoods and aspirations of rural worker families.
