Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): The Punjab Legislative Assembly on Monday passed a resolution rejecting the Centre’s proposed ‘G-RAM-G’ initiative, with the state government raising concerns over its potential impact on livelihoods and social welfare. The motion was introduced by Cabinet Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sondh, who urged the Union government to reconsider and withdraw the proposal.
Speaking in the House, Sondh warned that the initiative could adversely affect people from economically weaker backgrounds, particularly those who rely on government-backed employment for survival. He said policies that threaten income security for the poor risk pushing vulnerable families further into hardship.
The minister further argued that the proposal runs counter to the spirit of inclusive development and could weaken existing mechanisms meant to support rural labour. He accused the Centre of adopting measures that, in his view, undermine welfare frameworks designed to protect those at the bottom of the economic ladder.
In addition to opposing ‘G-RAM-G’, the Assembly also discussed concerns over alleged attempts to dilute the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA). Sondh claimed that any move to reduce the scope or effectiveness of the employment guarantee scheme would have serious consequences for rural workers who depend on it for a stable source of income.
Members across the House supported the resolutions, emphasising the need to safeguard employment and welfare programmes. The Assembly’s stance signals Punjab’s firm position on preserving social security measures and advocating for policies it believes serve the interests of the poor.
