The Kerala Assembly on Thursday, February 5, 2026, passed a resolution asking the Union government to restore the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). It demanded the withdrawal of the new Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) scheme. Minister for Local Self-Government M.B. Rajesh said, “VB-G RAM G entails severe financial burden on the States. With its introduction, the rights-based approach that was the essence of the existing (MGNREG) scheme has vanished.” Under VB-G RAM G, States must provide unemployment wages and compensate for delayed wage payments. While the Centre decides each State's share, the States bear full responsibility for extra costs. The Centre sets a ‘normative allocation’ and expects States to cover 40% of this. Any workdays beyond this must be fully paid by the States. Kerala estimates it will face ₹3,500 crore more in costs due to this. The resolution passed amid Opposition protests over the Sabarimala gold theft issue. Kerala has 40.45 lakh families under MGNREGS, with 22.66 lakh workers from 19.43 lakh families fully active. The State has worked to provide maximum job opportunities and improve livelihoods. For 2024-25, Kerala offered 66.17 man-days per worker, above the national average of 50.23 man-days. Kerala also offers extra benefits beyond the central scheme. The ‘Tribal Plus’ scheme grants 100 extra job days to tribal workers. Festival allowances increased from ₹1,000 to ₹1,200 in 2025-26 for families completing 100 workdays. Kerala was the first State to create a welfare board for MGNREGS workers and started the Ayyankali employment guarantee scheme for urban workers. The resolution stated the Centre replaced MGNREGS despite already delaying funds to Kerala, creating hurdles. The State demands the return to the original rights-based MGNREGS model.