Amid G Ram G Bill row, Mamata names WB's job guarantee scheme after Mahatma Gandhi

This comes after the Lok Sabha passed the passed the VB-G RAM G Bill, which seeks to replace the UPA-era MGNREGA that guarantees employment in rural areas.

Updated on: Dec 18, 2025, 16:36:32 IST

By HT News Desk

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Amid the row over VB-G RAM G Bill that seeks to replace UPA-era MGNREGA employment scheme, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday announced that West Bengal's government job guarantee scheme 'Karmashree' will be renamed after Mahatma Gandhi.

File photo of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. (PTI)

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“Ashamed that Gandhi's name removed from NREGA scheme; if they can't give respect to Father of Nation, we will,” news agency PTI quoted Mamata as saying. She was reportedly speaking at a business and industry conclave when she made the remarks without directly naming the BJP.

Mamata's remarks and the move to rename Bengal's job guarantee scheme comes after the Lok Sabha passed the passed the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), or the VB-G RAM G Bill, on Thursday. The VB-G RAM G Bill seeks to replace the UPA-era MGNREGA that guarantees employment in rural areas.

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"I feel ashamed that they have decided to remove Mahatma Gandhi's name from the NREGA programme, because I too belong to this country. We are now forgetting even the Father of the Nation," Banerjee said at the Dhana Dhanya auditorium, addressing the business meet.

"We will now rename the Karmashree scheme of our state after Mahatma Gandhi," she said.

What is Karmashree?

Under the 'Karmashree' scheme, the government claims to provide up to 75 days of work to beneficiaries, despite what Banerjee described as the Centre blocking funds under the MGNREGS.

The CM said the state aims to increase the number of workdays under 'Karmashree' to 100 in the future.

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"We have already created lots of workdays under 'Karmashree', which we are running with our own resources. Even if central funds are stopped, we will ensure people get work. We are not beggars," she said.

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