Odisha CM unveils ‘VB G RAM G’, says Congress misused Gandhi’s name

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday alleged that the previous Congress-led government at the Centre had planned to gain political mileage by attaching Mahatma Gandhi’s name to the rural employment guarantee scheme (MGNREGA).

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The Congress had failed to deliver its promised benefits. CM Majhi claimed that although the scheme guaranteed 100 days of employment, workers were getting barely 50 days of work in reality.

Providing details about the newly introduced ‘VB G RAM G’ initiative, the Chief Minister said corruption would now be eliminated, and more employment opportunities would be ensured. CM Majhi, along with Odisha BJP President Manmohan Samal, addressed a joint press conference to explain the objectives and benefits of the new scheme.

The CM stated the vision of building a Developed India (Viksit Bharat) by 2047 remains the government’s long-term goal. He added that earlier welfare schemes failed to reach the poor effectively.

In 2009, Mahatma Gandhi’s name was added to the employment programme, but despite the association, the scheme did not achieve the desired success.

Taking the issue seriously, the State government introduced the Central government’s ‘VB G RAM G Act’, under which beneficiaries will be assured 125 days of employment.

CM Majhi asserted that the earlier practice of siphoning off funds through fraudulent means will no longer be tolerated under the new system.

“The Sole aim of the Prime Minister is to achieve the goals of Viksit Bharat by 2047, to increase the guaranteed work days of employment from 100 to 125. Unnecessarily, a dispute is being created because the scheme doesn’t contain the name of Mahatma Gandhi in it. The aim of the scheme is not to take political advantage by using his name,” the CM expressed.