Ally TDP’s first response to new rural employment Bill G Ram G: ‘Concerning… will put burden on state’

Andhra Pradesh’s finance minister says yet go to through details of scheme but state govt will support and implement it

the Lok Sabha on Thursday passed the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025 (VB-G RAM G), which seeks to repeal MGNREGA, by a voice vote. (File Photo)

With the Centre’s Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G Ram G) Bill, 2025, likely to put a higher financial burden on the States’ exchequer with its provision to share funding of the scheme, Andhra Pradesh’s finance minister has said they will “support and implement it”, though the sharing of funding is “concerning” and “would put a burden on the state”.

The BJP and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) are allies at the Centre and in the state.

When The Indian Express pointed out the funding pattern of the new scheme, Andhra’s Finance, Planning, and Legislative Affairs Minister Payyavula Keshav said the government will study the provisions of the Bill, and that it will support and implement it. “Definitely, the funding sharing is concerning. It would put a lot of burden on the state if we have to divert a huge amount of funds as our share to fund the scheme. We have not gone through the full details of the scheme yet,” Keshav said.

Also Read | 5 key changes VB G Ram G Bill introduces in the rural job guarantee framework

Finance Department officials said that while this is cause for concern for a cash-strapped state like Andhra Pradesh, other provisions like a guarantee of employment for 125 days in a financial year, weekly wage payments, and a break during the peak agriculture season that would make more workers available for the farm sector are encouraging.

Unlike the MGNREGS, where the Centre is responsible for paying the entire wage bill, states will have to share the burden of the wage payment under the VB-G Ram G.

“For the purposes of this Act, the fund-sharing pattern between the Centre and the state governments shall be 90:10 for the Northeastern States, Himalayan states, and Union Territories (Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir), and 60:40 for all other states and Union territories with legislature,” states Section 22 (2) of the Bill.

Sreenivas Janyala

Sreenivas Janyala is a Deputy Associate Editor at The Indian Express, where he serves as one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political and economic landscape of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. With a career spanning over two decades in mainstream journalism, he provides deep-dive analysis and frontline reporting on the intricate dynamics of South Indian governance. Expertise and Experience Regional Specialization: Based in Hyderabad, Sreenivas has spent more than 20 years documenting the evolution of the Telugu-speaking states. His reporting was foundational during the historic Telangana statehood movement and continues to track the post-bifurcation development of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Key Coverage Beats: His extensive portfolio covers a vast spectrum of critical issues: High-Stakes Politics: Comprehensive tracking of regional powerhouses (BRS, TDP, YSRCP, and Congress), electoral shifts, and the political careers of figures like K. Chandrashekar Rao, Chandrababu Naidu, and Jagan Mohan Reddy. Internal Security & Conflict: Authoritative reporting on Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), the decline of the Maoist movement in former hotbeds, and intelligence-led investigations into regional security modules. Governance & Infrastructure: Detailed analysis of massive irrigation projects (like Kaleshwaram and Polavaram), capital city developments (Amaravati), and the implementation of state welfare schemes. Crisis & Health Reporting: Led the publication's ground-level coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic in South India and major industrial incidents, such as the Vizag gas leak. Analytical Depth: Beyond daily news, Sreenivas is known for his "Explained" pieces that demystify complex regional disputes, such as river water sharing and judicial allocations between the sister states. ... Read More

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