Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Guwahati: The Assam Cabinet has approved the framework for the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), known as VB-G RAM G. The state government plans to roll out the program on July 1, supported by a budgetary allocation of Rs 2,000 crore.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the initiative following a Cabinet meeting in Guwahati. The scheme increases the guaranteed wage employment for rural households to 125 days, surpassing the 90 days previously provided under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act.
Sarma emphasized that the program represents a shift toward combining employment with long-term infrastructure development. "The central government has replaced the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act or MGNREGA with Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) or VB-G RAM G in 2025. The earlier Act only focused on rural employment, but this scheme focuses on rural employment as well as asset creation," the Chief Minister said.
The state intends to distribute approximately Rs 1 crore to each panchayat, with funding levels adjusted based on the size of the area. Officials confirmed that local bodies will receive specific guidelines to prioritize projects such as village roads, school boundary walls, and crematoriums. By decentralizing the implementation process, the government aims to ensure that public expenditure creates durable assets for rural communities.
Comments