Karnataka, June 30 : Karnataka has urged the Union Government to rename its newly introduced rural employment initiative by including Mahatma Gandhi’s name, arguing that the Father of the Nation’s vision of village led development should remain central to any flagship programme aimed at rural livelihoods.
Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) Minister Eshwar B. Khandre made the appeal during a meeting of state RDPR ministers chaired by Union Rural Development Minister Shivaraj Singh Chouhan in New Delhi on Monday. The meeting focused on the implementation of the Centre’s new Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), commonly referred to as VB-G RAM G, which is scheduled to be rolled out from July 1.
While confirming Karnataka’s readiness to implement the scheme, Khandre stressed that the state was doing so in the larger interest of rural communities, particularly economically weaker families, marginalised sections, Scheduled Castes, and Scheduled Tribes who depend on employment guarantee programmes for their livelihoods.
The minister proposed that the scheme be officially renamed “Mahatma Gandhi VB-G RAM G,” stating that Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of empowering villages continues to be the foundation of India’s rural development framework. According to Khandre, removing Gandhi’s association from a major rural employment programme undermines the values that have shaped village-centric governance for decades.
He further remarked that if the Union Government is unwilling to include Gandhi’s name in the programme, it should at least consider naming all of the country’s nearly 2.68 lakh gram panchayats after Mahatma Gandhi as a tribute to his enduring contribution to rural India.
Apart from the naming issue, Karnataka also pressed for major policy changes in the implementation of the employment scheme. Khandre argued that rural households should receive work whenever they demand it instead of limiting employment opportunities to specific agricultural or harvest seasons. He maintained that guaranteed employment throughout the year would provide greater economic security to vulnerable rural families and reduce seasonal distress.
The minister also objected to the proposed 60:40 funding formula between the Centre and the states, saying it would significantly increase the financial burden on state governments. Karnataka has urged the Union Government to retain the 90:10 Centre State funding pattern, similar to the structure followed under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), which has been in place for years.
In addition, Khandre sought the immediate release of ₹2,186 crore that Karnataka claims is pending under the recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission. He said timely disbursal of these funds is crucial for implementing rural development projects and strengthening local self-governance institutions across the state.
The Centre’s new rural employment programme is expected to replace the existing framework with a broader focus on employment generation and livelihood creation. However, several states have expressed concerns over funding arrangements, implementation guidelines, and the removal of Mahatma Gandhi’s name from the programme’s title.
With the scheme set to begin from July 1, discussions between the Centre and the states are likely to continue over financial support, employment guarantees, and the programme’s branding, as governments seek a balance between administrative reforms and preserving the historical legacy associated with rural employment initiatives.