Karnataka to challenge VB-GRAM-G Act in court over MGNREGA concerns
Karnataka to challenge VB-GRAM-G Act in court over MGNREGA concerns
Karnataka's cabinet rejects the VB-GRAM-G Act, planning a legal challenge, citing constitutional rights and federal structure worries as states push back against the central scheme.
The Karnataka Cabinet on Thursday unanimously resolved to reject the implementation of the VB-GRAM-G Act and to legally challenge its validity, alleging that it is “against the spirit of the 73rd and 74th amendments to the Constitution”.
The VB-GRAM-G Act, which guarantees 125 days of wage employment a year, replaces MGNREGA's 100 days of work and introduces a 60:40 cost-sharing structure between the Centre and states, diverging from the 100% central funding under MGNREGA. These changes have raised concerns about federal balance and rural livelihood security.
Karnataka is the third state to reject the Act after Punjab and Telangana. The resolution states that the Act “is in violation of the right to work and livelihood of the citizens as enshrined under Article 21 of the Constitution,” and warns that the proposed framework would weaken employment security for rural households. It also argues that the bottom-up planning approach, as required by the Constitution and implemented through Panchayats, has been compromised. The cabinet pointed to the Centre’s role in framing the scheme as a challenge to federal structures by excluding states from consultations while demanding they bear 40% of the funding burden.
The decision followed an extensive discussion on the proposed repeal of the MGNREGA and the implications of replacing it with the VB-GRAM-G Act. The cabinet also consulted the Advocate General on the legal and constitutional ramifications of the legislation, emphasizing the need to protect state rights and local governance mechanisms.
The Karnataka government’s position highlights ongoing tensions over who funds and administers employment guarantees, and signals a formal legal challenge to the Act as other states weigh their options. The move could shape the broader debate over rural employment schemes in the country.
