Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Jan 2: The Bharatiya Janata Party is set to launch a nationwide outreach campaign in support of the G-RAM-G scheme, aiming to counter the Congress’ 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, to be held via video conference. The meeting will be attended by chief ministers of BJP- and NDA-ruled states, along with state rural development ministers. National General Secretary (Organisation) BL Santhosh and National Executive President Nitin Nabin will also be present.
Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is expected to make a detailed presentation during the meeting, outlining the objectives and framework of the G-RAM-G scheme. He is likely to explain how the new initiative seeks to strengthen rural infrastructure, generate sustainable employment and improve transparency in welfare delivery.
The G-RAM-G Bill was passed by Parliament in December after extensive debate, with the government stating that the legislation is intended to address structural shortcomings in the existing MGNREGA framework. According to the Centre, the new law places emphasis on skill-based employment, creation of durable assets, timely wage payments and technology-driven monitoring to reduce leakages and ensure better outcomes for rural communities.
The Bill, passed during the final week of the Winter Session of Parliament, triggered strong protests from Opposition parties. The Congress 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 would shift the financial burden onto states already under 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 Bill’s passage saw dramatic scenes in Parliament, including a walkout by the entire Opposition during Rajya Sabha proceedings on December 18. The TMC also staged an overnight protest within the Parliament complex.
Following the President of India’s assent, the Bill has cleared the way for nationwide implementation. BJP leaders said the outreach campaign is aimed at countering what they describe as misinformation being spread by the Congress, by taking the details of the new law directly to the public.
As part of the campaign, the party plans to organise interactions with farmers and labourers, along with press conferences, seminars and public meetings across the country. The BJP said the objective is to ensure that citizens clearly understand the intent and benefits of the G-RAM-G initiative, while countering what it terms misleading narratives around the legislation.