Minister Tinku Roy on Friday strongly criticized the opposition for allegedly spreading misinformation over the renaming of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), accusing them of misleading the public and diverting attention from core issues such as employment generation and wage payments.Speaking at a press conference at the Pradesh BJP headquarters in Krishnanagar, Roy said repeated protests by opposition parties were creating confusion among people. He explained the historical development of rural employment schemes in India, starting from earlier initiatives like Relief Work, Food for Work, and the National Rural Employment Programme (NREP), which eventually led to the enactment of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act in 2005. He added that the scheme was renamed MGNREGA in 2009 in honor of Mahatma Gandhi.The minister stated that the program has now been restructured and rebranded as the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), also known as the VB-G Ram Ji Project. Under the new framework, the number of guaranteed employment days has been increased from 100 to 125. He emphasized that the revamped scheme focuses on addressing structural shortcomings, improving transparency, strengthening planning processes, and ensuring greater accountability.Roy highlighted that the reforms are aimed at boosting rural economies, creating long-lasting assets, raising household incomes, and enhancing resilience against natural and financial challenges.Drawing a comparison between the two regimes, Roy said the UPA government had spent ₹2.13 lakh crore on MGNREGA, while the NDA government allocated ₹7.8 lakh crore between 2015 and 2025, which, according to him, reflects the NDA’s strong commitment to rural development.Taking a swipe at the opposition, Roy said their emphasis on the renaming issue was an attempt to overshadow substantial improvements in employment opportunities and wages. He urged people not to be influenced by rumors and reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring that the restructured scheme delivers tangible benefits to rural communities.
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