New Delhi, 18 December (H.S.): The Lok Sabha on Thursday passed the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Employment and Livelihood Mission (Rural) Bill, 2025, popularly known as the Viksit Bharat – G RAM G Bill, after an extensive discussion that continued late into the evening. The Bill aims to bolster employment generation, create sustainable rural livelihoods, and promote comprehensive development across India’s villages.

Replying to the debate, Union Minister for Rural Development and Agriculture Shivraj Singh Chouhan delivered a spirited reply, fiercely countering opposition criticisms while highlighting the achievements of the Modi Government in strengthening rural infrastructure and employment programs.

The Bill’s passage marks an important legislative step toward the government’s vision of a Viksit Bharat (Developed India) by 2047.Bill OverviewThe Viksit Bharat – G RAM G initiative focuses on rural water conservation, employment generation, and village-level infrastructure.

According to the provisions of the Bill, up to 65% of total funds will be allocated to water conservation and management projects, particularly in critical and semi-critical blocks, ensuring adequate water availability and sustainable use of resources.

The scheme integrates livelihood enhancement with ecological development through employment-linked rural works — building on government reforms aimed at expanding rural income opportunities while ensuring environmental sustainability.

Chouhan’s Reply: “This Is Not Just a Scheme, It’s Modi’s Guarantee”Addressing the House late on Thursday evening, Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan strongly defended the government’s approach and policies, accusing the opposition of distorting facts for political gain.

“We heard members till 1:30 a.m., and now it is my right to respond,” he remarked, emphasizing that parliamentary debate demands listening to all sides — not walking away from responsibility.

Chouhan asserted that employment guarantee initiatives had gained credibility, transparency, and effectiveness only under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He remarked that the earlier governments merely used such schemes for political optics.

Referring to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), Chouhan claimed that while it was the Congress-led UPA Government that attached Mahatma Gandhi’s name to the original NREGA scheme before the 2009 elections, the Modi Government reinvented and strengthened it with true intent.

“The Congress only used Gandhi’s name for political mileage; they did not live by his ideals,” he said, accusing the previous regimes of reducing employment programs to vote-winning gimmicks.

“Congress Betrayed Gandhi’s Ideals”In a passionate speech sprinkled with historical and moral references, Chouhan accused the Congress of “killing Gandhi’s ideals” through acts such as declaring the Emergency, tolerating corruption, and dividing the nation.

“The day partition was accepted, Gandhi’s ideals were betrayed. The day the Constitution was suspended during Emergency, Gandhiji’s principles were assassinated once more,” he said.

He pointed out that Bapu is not just a symbol but the soul of India’s conscience. “For us, Gandhiji is faith, inspiration, and belief. That is why the BJP has enshrined his social and economic philosophy within its five core commitments (Panch Nishtha). Gandhiji taught us that ‘India lives in its villages,’ and this Bill carries forward that vision. If villages die, India will die,” Chouhan said firmly.

Reacting to references to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) during the debate, Chouhan said the organization is being “wrongly maligned.” “The RSS believes in nation-building by shaping individuals who are patriotic, honest, industrious, and of strong character. Its ideals were never confined or narrow,” he said.

“Our organisation’s lakhs of volunteers work selflessly for the country’s progress,” he added, urging the House to read Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat’s speeches, which emphasize inclusivity and unity.

“The Whole Nation Is One — Beyond Region or Language”Countering allegations of regional bias, the Minister asserted that the government treats the entire nation as one unit — “from Chennai to Guwahati.”

In a poetic metaphor that drew wide applause from the treasury benches, Chouhan described India as a living being rather than a mere landmass.“This country is not just a piece of land; it is a living, breathing nation. Kashmir is its mind, the Himalayas its crown, Punjab and Bengal its two powerful arms. Delhi is the heart, Vindhyachal the waist, Narmada its waistband, the Eastern and Western Ghats its thighs, Kanyakumari its feet — and the ocean washes them with devotion,” he said.

“Work, Not Words — That’s Modi’s Guarantee”Presenting comparative statistics, Chouhan argued that the Congress’s performance in rural employment was negligible compared to the Modi government’s record.He stated that:Under previous governments, only 1.53 million projects were completed, whereas the Modi Government completed 86.2 million works under rural development schemes.

Women’s participation in MGNREGA-like programs increased from 48% under UPA to 56.73% under NDA.Aadhaar seeding of MGNREGA accounts rose dramatically from 7.6 million to 121.2 million.Assets created under rural employment programs jumped from 2.9 million to over 56 million.

“These are not claims — these are proofs of Modi’s guarantee,” he said.Chouhan accused the Congress of hypocrisy, saying, “They speak of Ram but keep a knife behind their back. They commit the sin of stealing Gandhiji from Gandhi himself.”

Attack on “Congress’s Naming Fetish”In a scathing attack, Chouhan highlighted how Congress governments named countless schemes, institutions, and awards after the members of the Nehru–Gandhi family.He detailed:25 state schemes named after Rajiv Gandhi, and 27 after Indira Gandhi.55 universities and educational institutions carrying Rajiv’s name, 31 after Indira, and 22 after Jawaharlal Nehru.

23 sports tournaments named after Rajiv Gandhi, 4 after Indira Gandhi, and 2 after Nehru.74 roads, buildings, and public places named after family members.51 awards, 37 institutions, 39 hospitals, and 15 scholarships commemorating members of the Nehru–Gandhi lineage.Even 15 national parks, he said, “reserved for animals, were named after Nehru, Indira, and Rajiv.”

“Congress was obsessed with naming everything after one family, while the Modi Government is focused on delivering results, not slogans,” he declared.

“G RAM G Bill Is for Empowered Villages”Chouhan stressed that the Viksit Bharat – G RAM G Bill embodies Mahatma Gandhi’s dream of self-reliant villages and equitable development. It will channel resources to grassroots-level projects focusing on rural infrastructure, water conservation, livelihood generation, and social empowerment.

He concluded that the mission represents Prime Minister Modi’s belief in transforming India through village-centric growth, saying, “Our commitment is not to political vanity but to action. We live by work — not words.”

With strong support from treasury benches, the Lok Sabha passed the Viksit Bharat – G RAM G Bill, marking a significant step towards the government’s long-term rural development goals aligned with ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar