Chhattisgarh's Opposition Congress staged a gherao of the state assembly on Tuesday, protesting changes to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). The party accused the BJP-led central government of diluting the scheme by replacing it with the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission (Gramin), or VB G-RAM-G—passed by Parliament in December 2025 amid nationwide opposition uproar.
The protest follows the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha's passage of the VB G-RAM-G Bill last December, which replaces MGNREGA and shifts funding from 90% central to a 60:40 Centre-state ratio while removing gram panchayats' decision-making powers for projects like fields, threshing floors, wells, and ponds.
AICC general secretary in-charge Sachin Pilot highlighted the funding change: “Previously, 90% of the funds for the scheme were disbursed by the Central government. Now, they have imposed a 60:40 funding ratio upon the States. Furthermore, the authority to take decisions regarding the execution of various projects—such as the construction of fields, threshing floors, wells, and ponds—has been taken away from the gram panchayats.”
Former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel alleged the original scheme had secured employment for millions of families and accused the BJP of stripping these rights. Protesters also raised local grievances including electricity tariff hikes, unfulfilled farmer promises on paddy procurement, rising gas cylinder prices, law and order issues, and narcotics trade.
Earlier, Congress MLAs including Baghel and Leader of Opposition Charan Das Mahant sought an adjournment motion in the assembly, which was rejected, leading to a walkout.
