BJP Gears Up For Nationwide Campaign To Counter Congress On G-RAM-G Scheme Row | Politics News

The BJP has planned a nationwide outreach campaign on the G-RAM-G scheme amid the opposition’s concerns over replacing MGNREGA (PTI)

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to launch a nationwide outreach campaign in support of the G-RAM-G scheme, aiming to counter the Congress’s proposed “Save MGNREGA” movement scheduled to begin on January 5.

As part of the strategy, BJP president JP Nadda has convened a high-level meeting on Saturday, which will be attended by chief ministers of BJP and NDA-ruled states, along with state rural development ministers.

The meeting will be held via video conference and will also include National General Secretary (Organisation) BL Santhosh and National Executive President Nitin Nabin. Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is expected to make a detailed presentation on the objectives and framework of the G-RAM-G scheme, outlining how it aims to strengthen rural infrastructure, generate sustainable employment, and improve transparency in welfare delivery.

The G-RAM-G Bill was passed by Parliament in December following extensive discussions, with the government stating that the new legislation is designed to address structural weaknesses in the existing MGNREGA framework.

According to the government, the new law focuses on skill-based employment, durable asset creation, timely wage payments, and technology-driven monitoring to reduce leakages and ensure better outcomes for rural communities.

Opposition Fury Over G-RAM-G Bill

The G-RAM-G Bill, which was passed during the final week of the Winter Session of Parliament, saw strong protests from Opposition parties. The Congress strongly objected to the change in nomenclature, particularly the removal of Mahatma Gandhi’s name from the scheme, while the Trinamool Congress alleged that the move was aimed at shifting the financial burden onto states already facing fiscal stress.

Under the new legislation, the cost-sharing ratio for guaranteed employment between the Centre and the states has been fixed at 60:40. The passage of the Bill witnessed dramatic scenes in Parliament, with the entire Opposition staging a walkout during the Rajya Sabha proceedings on December 18. The TMC also held an overnight protest within the Parliament complex to register its opposition.

The Bill has since received the assent of the President of India, clearing the way for its implementation across the country. The BJP plans to counter what it describes as misinformation being spread by the Congress by taking the details of the new law directly to the people.

As part of this outreach, the party will organise farmer and labourer interactions, press conferences, seminars, and public meetings across the country. Party leaders said the objective of the campaign is to ensure that citizens clearly understand the intent and benefits of the G-RAM-G initiative, while countering what they term misleading narratives surrounding the legislation.