West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee declared that the state’s Karmashree rural job scheme will be renamed after Mahatma Gandhi, opposing the Centre’s VB-G RAM-G Bill that replaces MGNREGA. Banerjee criticized the removal of Gandhi’s name, calling it “shameful,” and vowed to uphold the Father of the Nation’s legacy in Bengal’s welfare programmes.
In a sharp political response to the Centre’s Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill (VB-G RAM-G), West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee announced that her government will rename the Karmashree scheme after Mahatma Gandhi.
Speaking at a Business Conclave in Kolkata on December 18, 2025, Banerjee accused the BJP-led Centre of erasing Gandhi’s name from the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), which has provided 100 days of guaranteed rural employment since 2005. She said, “The removal of Gandhiji’s name fills me with deep shame. If some political parties fail to respect our national icons, we will do it.”
Banerjee emphasized that Bengal already runs 95 social security schemes covering citizens “from birth to death,” and pledged to expand Karmashree’s scope to 100 workdays, aligning it with the original MGNREGA framework.
Major Takeaways
Renaming Decision: Karmashree scheme to be renamed after Mahatma Gandhi.
Political Context: Move comes amid Centre’s VB-G RAM-G Bill replacing MGNREGA.
CM’s Criticism: Banerjee calls removal of Gandhi’s name “shameful” and vows to preserve his legacy.
Scheme Expansion: Bengal aims to increase Karmashree’s workdays to 100.
Symbolic Protest: Renaming seen as a direct counter to the Centre’s policy shift.
Conclusion
By renaming Karmashree after Mahatma Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee has positioned Bengal’s welfare agenda as both a policy response and symbolic protest against the Centre’s VB-G RAM-G Bill. The move underscores the continuing political battle over welfare schemes and the legacy of India’s national icons.
Sources: The Hindu, Indian Express, Zee News, India Today, NDTV, Hindustan Times.