From mid-Jan to Dec 30: Punjab govt advances special Assembly session to ‘pass resolution against VB-G RAM G Bill
House to discuss 'how rights of the poor will be snatched' under the VB-G RAM G and pass a resolution against the Centre's move to 'finish; the MGNREGA.
The Punjab government will convene a one-day special session of the Vidhan Sabha on December 30 to pass a resolution against the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin)(VB-G RAM G) Bill, 2025, Finance Minister Harpal Cheem Saturday said.
The decision was taken in a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Incidentally, Mann had on Friday said the state government will convene the special Assembly session on the issue in the second week of January. Sources privy to the development said that move to advance the date of the session by two weeks — to December 30 — aims to counter the Opposition Congress, which has has already hit the streets against the Centre’s move to replace MGNREGA with VB-G RAM G.
Parliament on Thursday passed the VB-G RAM G Bill, which seeks to replace the 20-year-old Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and guarantee 125 days of rural wage employment every year. The Rajya Sabha passed the Bill with a voice vote, hours after the Lok Sabha cleared it amid strong protests by the opposition over the removal of Mahatma Gandhi’s name from the existing scheme, accusing the Centre of putting the financial burden on the states.
Addressing the media after the Cabinet meeting, Cheema accused the BJP-led Centre of tearing apart the “pages of Baba Saheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar’s Constitution” one by one. “We are not against the name. We are not against Viksit Bharat. But they are misleading people by naming it after Lord Ram while making amendments to the scheme that would affect the beneficiaries. We will expose this,” said Cheema.
The Finance Minister said that the special session will discuss “how rights of the poor will be snatched” under the VB-G RAM G Bill and how the Centre is “finishing” the MGNREGA.
Multiple sources in the government said that it was discussed and decided that the session should be called at the earliest as the Congress, which made substantial gains in the recently concluded rural polls, was planning to use the G RAM G Bill as an ammunition against the Centre.
“The Congress is already using it as a powerful weapon against the Centre as MGNREGA affects millions in the lower strata of society. We cannot wait a month. That will be too late. The way Congress is making it a big issue, the AAP should also do it and must go a step ahead. We have launched an offensive against the Centre. During the special session will discuss how rights of the poor in Punjab in particular will be snatched,” a source said.
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Another source cited a technical issue behind calling the session in December issue. As per the rules of Vidhan Sabha, if a session is called in new calendar year, it would have start with the Governor’s address. If the Governor’s address is delivered, a debate has to take place on it, necessitating a longer session, something that the government does not want, the source said.
Meanwhile, Cheema said though the Centre claims that the new Bill will guarantee 125 days of employment, but fact of the matter is that the number of works have been reduced under, which will not ensure employment of even 10 days for the poor.
“The cleaning of village ponds, which could previously be done twice a year, has now been reduced to just once a year. To prevent people from finding out about these provisions, the scheme’s name has been changed to G RAM G but we will expose these hidden amendments in the special session,” Cheema said.
On Friday, Mann had questioned the G RAM G Bill. He said that the Centre was contributing 90 per cent and states were contributing 10 per cent in the MGNREGA scheme. “Under new scheme, the Centre will contribute 60 per cent, and states will pay 40 per cent. And they (Centre) do not give funds to states. From where the states will bring money,” Mann had asked.
Kanchan Vasdev is a Senior Assistant Editor in The Indian Express’ Punjab bureau. She is a highly experienced journalist with 22 years of expertise covering high-stakes politics, governance, and social issues in Northern India.
Professional Background
Role: Primary reporter covering the Punjab Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), government policies, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership in the state.
Experience: She previously worked with The Tribune and has played a key role in launching various city editions.
Special Projects:
Abandoned Brides: Authored a monograph on brides abandoned by NRIs as part of the Prabha Dutt Memorial Fellowship.
Environment: Worked as a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) fellow, focusing on the pollution levels in the Satluj river.
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)
Her recent reporting focuses on the legislative strategies and political maneuvers of the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government:
1. Legislative & Governance Standoffs
"Punjab govt advances special Assembly session to pass resolution against VB-G RAM G Bill" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the state's move to block the Centre's "Viksit Bharat" mission, which the state claims will undermine MGNREGA.
"Punjab govt doubles down on special sessions, sixth in January" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing the AAP government's use of special sessions as a legislative tool amid tensions with the Governor.
"Punjab asks 'VIP teachers' working near Chandigarh to go back to border districts" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on CM Mann's move to end the practice of influential teachers avoiding postings in remote areas.
2. Political Analysis & Rural Polls
"Punjab rural polls: Why Akalis are likened to dinosaurs in Punjab" (Dec 19, 2025): Analyzing CM Bhagwant Mann's rhetoric against the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) following local body elections.
"AAP claims win in 78% Punjab zila parishads as counting continues" (Dec 18, 2025): Breaking down the results of the 2025 rural elections.
"Rahul Gandhi and Sidhu alike, says Bhagwant Mann" (Dec 13, 2025): Covering the CM's critique of the Congress leadership.
3. Law Enforcement & Bureaucracy
"Suspended Punjab IPS officer Ravjot Kaur Grewal awaits reinstatement" (Dec 10, 2025): Investigative reporting on the bureaucratic red tape involving the Election Commission and the state government.
"Punjab declines to give parole to Amritpal Singh" (Nov 27, 2025): Detailing the state government's refusal to grant parole to the radical preacher and sitting MP.
4. Welfare & Economy
"Punjab government's plan to add more freebies to 'atta-dal' scheme hits funds roadblock" (Dec 4, 2024): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing the state's flagship food security program.
"Mann leads Punjab delegation to Japan and South Korea for investor outreach" (Dec 2, 2025).
Signature Beat
Kanchan Vasdev is known for her insider access to Punjab's political executive. Her writing provides deep insights into how state policies are formulated and the friction points between the state government and central authorities. Her dual expertise in environment and law allows her to report on complex issues like the "Farmhouse Policy" (Dec 18, 2025) and river pollution with a unique policy-oriented lens.
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