State resolution on VB-G RAM G Act violates federal structure: Shivraj

Union Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday said that any State Assembly passing a resolution against the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act would be acting against the federal structure enshrined in the Constitution.Chouhan made the remarks in reference to the Punjab Assembly convening a one-day special session to discuss the impact of changes to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).“VB-G RAM G Act was passed after hours of detailed debate in both Houses of Parliament, and I responded to all questions raised by the Opposition. I have learnt that the Punjab Assembly is planning to pass a resolution against this Act today. This would be completely wrong,” the Union Minister said.

#WATCH | Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh | On Viksit Bharat- G RAM G Act, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan says, "In the Lok Sabha, there was a debate on this bill for more than eight hours. I was noting down the suggestions from each MP. I had already told the opposition parties that… pic.twitter.com/XTVRhUt9rn

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Addressing a press conference at his residence in Bhopal, Chouhan asserted that once a law has been enacted by Parliament, opposing it through a State Assembly resolution would be unconstitutional and against the spirit of cooperative federalism.“State Assemblies are an integral part of India’s federal structure and must respect it. Punjab should not attempt to create a new precedent by opposing a law passed by Parliament, as it could create serious problems,” he said.The minister also accused the Opposition of misleading people over the alleged renaming of MGNREGA. He claimed that Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi was abroad when the Bill was debated in Parliament and is now spreading misinformation about the legislation.Defending the VB-G RAM G Act, Chouhan said the revamped rural employment framework places strong emphasis on technology, transparency and timely wage payments, ensuring that funds are directly credited to workers’ bank accounts.He maintained that the powers of Gram Sabhas and Panchayats are not being diluted but strengthened further, with Gram Sabhas retaining the authority to identify and prioritise works. Implementation and monitoring, he added, will continue at the local level, supported by mandatory social audits to ensure transparency and greater participation of women and self-help groups.Chouhan said special attention would be given to the most backward Panchayats, which will receive higher funding, additional support and more employment opportunities.“Employment under the scheme has not been weakened but made stronger, with the number of guaranteed workdays increased from 100 to 125,” he said, adding that provisions for unemployment allowance and compensation for delayed wage payments have been retained.He also assured that government employees working under the VB-G RAM G Act would continue to receive their monthly salaries on time.