The AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Wednesday welcomed the decision of the Union government to increase the duration of work from 100 days to 125 days under the Viksit Bharat — Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB—G RAM G) Bill.
In a post on his social media handle, Mr Palaniswami, however, urged the Centre to retain the words – Mahatma Gandhi – in the title of the proposed scheme, which was, till now, called the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.
At the same time, he criticised Chief Minister M.K. Stalin for not increasing the duration of work to 150 despite having assured people of the State in the run-up to the 2021 Assembly poll.
In a statement, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Workers’ Rights Retrieval Kazhagam coordinator O. Panneerselvam said the VB — G RAM G Bill would reduce the number of worker-beneficiaries and lower the wages for agricultural workers during the peak seasons of sowing and harvesting, besides increasing the financial burden for States. He demanded that either the Bill be withdrawn or referred to the parliamentary joint committee.
Published – December 17, 2025 08:58 pm IST
