Karnataka told hold legislature session to discuss VB-G RAM G Act

A special Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Bengaluru on Wednesday decided to summon the Legislature session from January 22 to January 31 to discuss the implications of the VB-G RAM G law and to take a call on the next steps to exert pressure on the Centre to restore the UPA’s MGNREG Act.

The legislature session will discuss the programme to create awareness about people on the adverse impact of the new rural work programme on people and panchayat raj institutions, Law & Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil said, briefing the media after the Cabinet meeting.

About seven states including Tamil Nadu and Punjab have expressed their opposition to the new law.


The new law curtails the powers of the panchayats in deciding the rural work they could assign to workers. The Centre alone will decide the work they would do. The people who once took up work related to asset creation in rural areas will now have to work with road contractors, the law minister said.

The Cabinet also decided to mount a legal battle against the new law.

The Legislature will begin with Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot addressing a joint sitting on January 22.