In an attempt to build better root-level bonding and spell out the vision behind the country’s latest rural labor law, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) convened a high-end workshop of districts in Mangaluru on Saturday, January 24, 2026. The daylong session was where Akhilesh launched Viksit Bharat — Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) or VB–G RAM G Act at the district party office.
But the workshop wasn’t only a procedural glimpse; it was a political clarion call. With the two-decade-old MGNREGA having been scrapped recently still fresh in the public mind, BJP leaders in coastal Karnataka are going on an overdrive to project the new law as a technology-driven upgrade that promises to rid it of corruption and empower the “last person” in country’s hinterland.
Towering on ‘Edifice of Lies’: MP Brijesh Chowta’s view
MP Captain Brijesh Chowta inaugurated the workshop with combative edge against the opposition. He accused the Congress party of trying to create hindrance in the policy by spreading “lies” among the rural masses.
“The opposition is troubled as they see the possibility of this scheme altering the face of villages,” Chowta said. “We are here to break that lie and tell our people that the transition from the old system to VB–G RAM G is a transition from leakages to legacy.
Echoing similar feelings, MLC Pratap Simha Nayak underscored that the scheme is also underpinned by the reforms which focuses more on asset creation rather than short-lived relief. He cautioned that spreading misinformation on new laws is a ”futile attempt” to alienate the rural poor from the benefits of new legislations.
MGNREGA v/s VB–G RAM G: Change in Mechanics
Comparative study State BJP Secretary Lakshmi Ashwin Gowda made a comparative study which was the highlight of the workshop. She described the changing nature of what rural employment in 2026 looks like.
Increased Guaranteed Days
Whereas MGNREGA was guaranteed for only 100 days of work, VB–G RAM G Act has now made it officially to be increased up to 125 days in a financial year. This 25 percent rise is designed to guarantee more regular, steady revenue for cash-poor rural homes outside the time of harvest.
The “Weekly Pay” Mandate
The acceleration of the wage cycle was one of features that received most accolades. The new structure requires 7-day payment cycle, which is a huge step-up from the often late paying schedules used in the previous decade. This is made possible through a “digital-first” strategy implemented on:
- Biometric/ID Verification: Just to verify work being done is not by unpaid person.
- Geo-tagging: To confirm that assets such as ponds and roads are being constructed.
- AI Driven Monitoring: For identifying and blocking money movement immediately.
Emphasize Climate Resilience and Water Security
The workshop emphasized that work under the new Act was not “random manual labor.” Now, it has been organized into a few key verticals:
- Water Security: Groundwater recharging and lake desilting.
- Basic Essentials for Rural Growth: Create the “Viksit Bharat National Rural Infrastructure Stack.”
- Assets: Storage and market facilities for farmers to be provided (a) Livelihood_quantities.
- Climate Mitigation Adaptations: Devise to save the villages from disastrous events of extreme climate.
PM Modi to interact with young leaders at Viksit Bharat Dialogue Finale
Empowering the Gram Panchayats
During the valedictory session, which was presided over by Dakshina Kannada BJP District President Sathish Kumpala, thrust was on giving a greater role for local governance. Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans (VGPPs) have now becoming the basic planning document in line with the new Act.
“Schemes were given from the top for too long,” said Kumpala. “Now, the Gram Sabha will decide, that this is what they want in their village and this plan gets incorporated into PM Gati Shakti to further be dealt with at national level.” It is this decentralization with a digital spine.”
The workshop ended with a call for all party workers to take the 125-day guarantee to all households in the taluk. Among the prominent local leaders present to execute the outreach plan of action were MLAs Umanath Kotian and Bhagirathi Murulya, in addition with MLC Kishore Kumar.
Conclusion: The Road to 2047
According to Mohanty, the Mangaluru workshop is first of such workshops being held at the district-level in Karnataka as part of transient efforts to steady the flash-rolling out of VB–G RAM G Act. By centring the debate on a “125-day promise” and tech-enabled transparency of the new system, the BJP is trying to transform a potentially incendiary policy shift into another plank in its “Developed India” narrative.
As the end of the financial year draws near, the legacy will be judged not just by person-days created but also by the longevity of assets planted in the soil of coastal Karnataka.
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