New Delhi, Mar 11 (PTI) Opposition members in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday criticised the government over various issues, such as rural unemployment, rising LPG prices, digital access and the replacement of MGNREGA with the VB- G RAM G scheme.
Participating in a discussion on the working of the Ministry of Rural Development, CPI(M) MP V Sivadasan alleged that rural India is facing rising distress due to policy decisions of the Centre.
He said the price of LPG increased after the government encouraged rural households to shift to cooking gas under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana.
Sivadasan also raised concerns over migration from villages to cities, saying migrant workers often face poor living conditions and inadequate facilities in urban areas.
He alleged that the government was not adequately addressing challenges faced by farmers and rural communities.
“Because of this government’s policy, sir, migration from rural India to the cities is happening. Migrant workers are not getting minimum facilities in the cities,” he said.
“The agricultural sector faces a crisis. What is this government doing? They are mere spectators…” he said, and slammed the government for bringing the VB-G RAM G Act to replace the MGNREGA.
He also flagged the problem of crop losses caused by wildlife and said farmers receive only a small fraction of compensation compared to their actual losses.
IUML member Haris Beeran said rural India forms the backbone of the country and accounts for about 65 per cent of the population.
However, he expressed concern over whether budgetary allocations were sufficient to address employment and infrastructure needs in rural areas.
Citing data from the National Statistical Office’s periodic labour force survey, Beeran said unemployment among rural youth remains high and questioned the reduction in allocations for rural employment programmes.
He also raised issues related to poor internet connectivity in villages despite the government’s Digital India initiative and sought details on broadband connectivity under the BharatNet project.
Beeran further highlighted the shortage of doctors and specialists in rural primary health centres and cited findings of the National Family Health Survey, indicating that 35.5 per cent of children under five are stunted due to chronic malnutrition.
Criticising the replacement of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act with the VB-GRAM G, he said several states, including Kerala, had raised concerns over the financial burden the new framework could impose.
Responding to the criticism, BJP member Sadanand Mhalu Shet Tanavade said the government has significantly increased allocations for rural development, rising from about 87,765 crore in 2016-17 to 2.73 lakh crore in 2026-27, and placed villages at the centre of its vision for a developed India.
“This massive increase in funding reflects the government’s commitment to reducing poverty, strengthening infrastructure, and building long-term prosperity in rural areas,” he noted.
He said rural work is no longer about survival but about building prosperity.
Tanavade highlighted schemes, such as the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin), under which over 3.7 crore houses have been built for rural families, and the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana that has expanded road connectivity across villages.
He also referred to the SVAMITVA Scheme for drone-based property mapping in villages and said it has helped provide property cards to millions of rural households.
The BJP member said the newly introduced VB-G RAM G Act aims to move beyond short-term wage employment by linking rural work with skill development, local demand and asset creation, while providing up to 125 days of employment.
He added that self-help groups involving over 10 crore women and digital initiatives, such as direct benefit transfers, strengthened financial inclusion and transparency in rural development programmes. PTI AO BAL BAL
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