Last Updated:
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan cautioned that opposition parties were likely to create confusion and attempt to project street protests as political victories
Chouhan emphasised that the outreach should not be limited to workers and labourers alone but must also cover the farming community, which stands to benefit from the expanded scope of the scheme. File Image
The Union Cabinet has thrown its weight behind the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, with Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan briefing colleagues on the key provisions of the legislation and urging ministers to carry its message directly to the people.
Speaking in the Cabinet, Chouhan underlined the need for ministers and party leaders to go to the ground and clearly explain the benefits of the new employment guarantee framework. He cautioned that opposition parties were likely to create confusion and attempt to project street protests as political victories and stressed that the government must stay ahead of the narrative.
Chouhan emphasised that the outreach should not be limited to workers and labourers alone but must also cover the farming community, which stands to benefit from the expanded scope of the scheme. On behalf of the entire Cabinet, he congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his leadership in steering through what he described as a significant and forward-looking piece of legislation.
The Cabinet discussion comes close on the heels of Parliament approving the Viksit Bharat-G RAM G scheme in place of MGNREGA during the Winter Session. With the bill now cleared, the BJP-led government is gearing up for an extensive nationwide campaign to take the law to the grassroots and counter mounting opposition criticism.
According to sources, the campaign will focus on explaining the scheme in detail while simultaneously responding to allegations raised by opposition parties. The government’s objective is to familiarise citizens with the new framework and take its defence beyond Parliament, reaching people through public forums and direct engagement.
As part of the outreach, the government plans to highlight that guaranteed employment days have been increased from 100 to 125, wages are being raised, and rural infrastructure is set to receive a major boost. A comprehensive, countrywide awareness drive is in the works, making extensive use of social media, press conferences, and public meetings.
From state capitals to gram sabhas, ministers and leaders are expected to engage directly with citizens to build support for the scheme. The move comes even as the Opposition sharpens its attack on the bill. Parties, including the Congress and the Trinamool Congress, have taken an aggressive stance, with the Congress convening a meeting of its Working Committee on December 27 to chart out its protest strategy.
Congress president and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, has warned that people will take to the streets, drawing parallels with the farm laws that were eventually repealed. The government, however, remains firm, insisting that the new law is an improvement on the previous framework and signalling that it will make its case directly to the people—both on policy and on the broader ideological narrative linked to the scheme.
December 19, 2025, 18:42 IST
Read More
