G RAM G Bill passed in Rajya Sabha
- The Central Government is implementing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme to ensure employment in rural areas. This scheme, introduced in 2005, has been one of the most important schemes of the Central Government.
- It is in this context that the Central Government decided to restructure this scheme. With the winter session of Parliament currently underway, the government introduced a bill to replace the 100-day employment scheme with the Viksit Bharat Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), i.e., the VB-G RAM G scheme. However, opposition MPs in Parliament strongly opposed this.
- The opposition parties severely criticized the removal of Mahatma Gandhi's name from the scheme. The Congress party criticized that the Central Government was doing this only to remove Gandhi's name.
- Furthermore, various opposition MPs criticized that this would increase the financial burden on the states. That is, in the 100-day employment scheme, the Central Government bears all the expenses.
- However, in this new scheme, while the Central Government will provide 60% of the funds, the state governments will have to contribute 40%. This also faced strong opposition.
- Nevertheless, the bill was passed in the Lok Sabha on Thursday afternoon. Subsequently, a debate was held in the Rajya Sabha from Thursday evening until night. The opposition parties strongly opposed the bill.
- The opposition demanded that the G RAM G bill be sent to a joint parliamentary committee for discussion. However, this was rejected in the Rajya Sabha through a voice vote. Amidst strong protests from the opposition, the bill was subsequently passed in the Rajya Sabha.
- The 'Shanti' Bill, aimed at using nuclear energy for India's transformation in an environmentally friendly manner, was passed in the Upper House of Parliament today. While the bill was passed in the Lok Sabha yesterday, it received approval in the Rajya Sabha today.
- Opposition parties strongly protested when the bill was introduced. Allegations were also made that it posed a threat to national security. However, after debates, the bill was passed in both houses.
- Following this, the bill will be sent for the President's assent. If he grants his approval, this new law will come into effect, replacing the 1962 Atomic Energy Act and the 2010 Civil Liability Act.
- This bill, which also paves the way for private sector participation in the nuclear energy sector, is seen as the biggest change undertaken in 80 years.
