In open letter, RJD MP appeals to parliamentarians to oppose VB-G RAM G Bill
New Delhi (PTI): Invoking Gandhi's Talisman of remembering the face of the poorest person while taking decisions, RJD MP Manoj Jha on Thursday wrote an open letter to fellow lawmakers appealing to them to defend the MGNREGA, and opposed the VB-G RAM G Bill that seeks to replace it.
Jha shared the letter on X,and said, "Appeal to fellow members in Parliament to save MGNREGA, which was not merely a government programme but a moral commitment made by the Indian Republic to its poorest citizens. It embodies the constitutional promise of dignity, livelihood, and social justice."
The Rajya Sabha MP invoked Gandhi's talisman to make his case.
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"He urged us to remember the face of the poorest and weakest person we have seen, and to ask whether the action we are about to take would be of any use to that person whether it would restore to them control over their own life," Jha said.
"He believed that if our action met that test, all doubts would dissolve. That talisman was meant to guide every decision in public life. I write to you today with that principle in mind," he said.
He urged MPs to oppose the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025, in the Lok Sabha.
"While the Lok Sabha has held discussion till late night yesterday, I urge you to oppose this move in our House," he said, adding that the appeal is "non-partisan".
"MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) was enacted in 2005 with the support of all major political parties. The House then acknowledged a shared constitutional obligation: that the right to work with dignity is integral to our democracy," he said.
He also quoted Article 41 of the Constitution, stating that it directs the State to secure the right to work and to provide public assistance in cases of unemployment and undeserved want. "MGNREGA translated this directive into a justiciable legal guarantee. The proposed bill dismantles that guarantee."
He said while the government claims that the new framework will provide 125 days of work instead of 100, the claim is misleading.
"Unlike MGNREGA, which was demand-driven, the new Bill makes employment dependent on central allocations and administrative discretion. Its coverage is no longer universal but limited to areas notified by the central government," he said.
"At a time when even MGNREGA workers received only 50-55 days of work annually due to inadequate funding, the promise of additional days without assured resources lacks credibility," he added.
Jha also objected to the provision that the cost would be shared 60:40 between the Centre and the state, and said it will place an unsustainable burden on many states, leading to exclusion and contraction.
"MGNREGA has its shortcomings, but they arise from failures of implementation, not from the law itself. Over two decades, it has provided crucial support during periods of distress, enhanced women's participation in the workforce, and upheld the principle of work as a right. not a favour".
Jha said the law should be strengthened, and "repealing it" without consultation or consensus is not reform but a "retreat from constitutional responsibility".
"I appeal to you, as fellow legislators, to defend a law born of democratic consensus and moral clarity. Let us stand by the principle that every hand deserves work and every worker deserves dignity," he said. "The poorest citizens of our country are watching our choices."
The Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill, 2025, that seeks to replace the existing rural employment law MGNREGA was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. It provides for 125 days of work and aims to establish a rural development framework.
Opposition parties and activists have opposed the Bill. Several opposition MPs have said the Bill, which will have far-reaching implications for rural employment, should be sent to a parliamentary panel.
Appeal to fellow members in Parliament to save MGNREGA, which was not merely a government programme but a moral commitment made by the Indian Republic to its poorest citizens. It embodies the constitutional promise of dignity, livelihood, and social justice.
— Manoj Kumar Jha (@manojkjhadu) December 18, 2025
Jai Hind pic.twitter.com/qOjRGHugcY
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Andhra to be developed as knowledge, creator economy hub: CM Naidu
New Delhi/Amaravati (PTI): Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday said the state is taking steps to transform itself into a knowledge and creator economy hub with a strong focus on artificial intelligence and quantum technology.
He noted that Andhra Pradesh has abundant tech-driven youth and the government is formulating plans to train them in futuristic technologies with support from global technology firms.
"Our goal is to transform Andhra Pradesh into a knowledge hub by focusing on AI, quantum computing, data centres, drone cities and space cities. The youth will remain our biggest asset over the next 25 years, and we seek global partnerships to scale up the creator economy," said Naidu during his interactions at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in Delhi.
Naidu, who participated in the summit in the national capital, also held meetings with several global technology leaders and industrialists to explore collaborations in artificial intelligence, clean energy and innovation ecosystems.
He met Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen, Autodesk AI Head Mike Haley, Aramco India Director Abdul Rehman AiThukair, LEGO Education Vice President Tom Hall, Aadhaar Founder and CTO Srikanth Nadhamuni, Khosla Ventures Managing Partner Vinod Khosla and others at the AP Pavilion.
The chief minister also held discussions with Saudi Aramco representatives on clean energy projects, including solar initiatives, and invited the company to expand operations in Andhra Pradesh, stating that the state is highly suitable for green energy production.
He sought support from NVIDIA Vice President Callista Redmond for establishing AI Living Labs and proposed partnerships through the Ratan Tata Innovation Hub to promote youth innovation, including collaborations with IIT Tirupati and Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Tirupati under the Andhra Pradesh Future Innovation and Research for Science and Technology (AP FIRST) initiative.
Naidu urged Autodesk leadership to support the development of Global Capability Centres in design engineering and requested the establishment of an Innovation Academy in Amaravati aligned with quantum technology, besides proposing AI and robotics learning labs in partnership with LEGO Education.
He also discussed AI-driven smart governance solutions with Quantela Inc Chairman Sridhar Gadhi, while World Bank Group Digital AI Regional Director Mahesh Uttamchandani met Naidu on the sidelines of the summit.
Following the meetings, Naidu visited various exhibition stalls at the summit, including those of NVIDIA, Tata, Intel and Microsoft, and reviewed AI applications across agriculture, healthcare and industry.
