Mamata Renames Bengal ‘Karmashree’ After Mahatma Gandhi

New Delhi, December 19, 2025: a significant political move, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced on Thursday, December 18, 2025, that the state’s flagship rural employment scheme, Karmashree, will be renamed after Mahatma Gandhi.

The announcement, made during the Bengal Business and Industry Conclave in Kolkata, serves as a direct response to the Central Government’s recent decision to replace the iconic MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) with a new programme titled the Viksit Bharat—Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G).

A “Matter of Deep Shame”

Speaking at the Dhano Dhanyo Auditorium, Chief Minister Banerjee expressed her strong disapproval of the Centre’s move to omit the name of the Father of the Nation from the national job guarantee scheme.

“The removal of Gandhiji’s name fills me with deep shame. Are we now forgetting even the Father of the Nation?” Banerjee asked the audience. “If some do not know how to honour Mahatma Gandhi, we will demonstrate what true respect means.”

The CM emphasized that West Bengal would continue to uphold the legacy of national icons. She noted that while the name is being removed at the national level, Bengal will ensure that Mahatma Gandhi’s name remains synonymous with the right to work for the rural poor.

Strengthening the State Scheme

The Karmashree scheme was originally rolled out by the West Bengal government in 2024. It was designed to bridge the gap after the Centre stopped releasing funds for MGNREGA in the state in 2022, citing administrative irregularities.

Key highlights of the updated scheme include:

• Increased Workdays: While the scheme currently guarantees a minimum of 50 days of work per year, Banerjee announced an ambition to increase this to 75 to 100 days.
• State Funding: The Chief Minister reiterated that the programme is entirely funded by the state’s own resources. “We are not beggars,” she asserted, “we will ensure people have work even if central funds are stopped.”
• Performance: According to state data, Karmashree has already provided over 100 crore person-days of work to more than 90 lakh job card holders in Bengal.

Political Context

The renaming comes amidst a heated legislative session. The Lok Sabha recently passed the VB-G RAM G Bill, which promises 125 days of employment but has been criticized by opposition parties for removing Mahatma Gandhi’s name and changing the fund-sharing ratio to 60:40 between the Centre and States.

By adopting the Mahatma’s name for Bengal’s independent scheme, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government is positioning itself as the true custodian of Gandhi’s “rights-based” employment philosophy.

What’s Next?

The state government is expected to introduce a formal Bill in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly soon to finalize the name change. This move is likely to further sharpen the “State vs. Centre” narrative ahead of future elections.