Chandigarh, December 30, 2025: The Punjab Legislative Assembly on Tuesday adopted a resolution strongly opposing the Centre’s proposed ‘G-RAM-G’ initiative, urging the Union government to withdraw the scheme while cautioning that it could have serious implications for economically weaker sections, especially in rural areas.
Presenting the resolution in the House, Cabinet Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sondh said the initiative poses a potential threat to the livelihoods of people who rely heavily on rural employment for survival. He asserted that any policy that risks income security for the poor contradicts the core principles of social justice and inclusive development.
Sondh alleged that the proposed scheme would further push rural communities to the margins and weaken ongoing efforts to reduce poverty. He emphasised that protecting employment opportunities and ensuring stable income support for disadvantaged groups should remain a top priority for both state and central governments.
In addition, the minister moved another resolution opposing what he termed attempts to dilute the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA). He accused the Centre of systematically undermining welfare schemes that provide a financial safety net to rural labourers and help sustain village economies.
Supporting members of the Assembly expressed concern that any weakening of existing employment programmes could worsen economic hardship in rural Punjab. The passage of the resolutions underlines the state government’s firm stance against policies it believes may erode social security measures meant for the poor and vulnerable.
