India, Dec. 22 -- The new Bill introduced by the Union government, Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Gramin (VB - GRAMG), to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005 (MGNREGA), nullifies the Right to Work guaranteed by the Indian Constitution.

GRAMG, despite its "divinely-inspired" name, paradoxically undermines the scheme for guaranteed work for a minimum of 100 days a year for the rural unemployed poor. GRAMG completely changes the character of MGNREGA.

The existing scheme to provide minimum employment to the rural poor is based on demand for employment. In other words, the Union government is duty-bound to provide funds for the employment of the rural poor in accordance with dema...