Imphal: Manipur officially joined the national rollout of the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission today. This new program replaces the old Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. It brings more cash and more work for rural households.
Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh attended the launch at Salam Tharojam Eco Tourism Park in Imphal West. He confirmed that job card holders now get 125 days of work every year. That is a jump from the previous 100 days. Daily wages also climbed from Rs 284 to Rs 300.
The plan pushes for local control. Commissioner of Rural Development Sumant Singh said the Act introduces a decentralized planning mechanism where each Gram Panchayat crafts its own development goals. He noted, "Implementation would be integrated with the PM GatiShakti geospatial platform to improve planning, transparency and monitoring."
Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen joined via video link to push for merging this work with other programs. She wants to see ties to agriculture, soil conservation, and the Jal Jeevan Mission. The goal is to build long-lasting assets that stand up to climate changes. Official events took place simultaneously across districts including Bishnupur, Senapati, Tengnoupal, Tamenglong, and Churachandpur.
Local officials are already moving on new projects. In Tamenglong, work started on a concrete side drainage. Meanwhile, in Churachandpur, authorities emphasized that the program now includes a 60-day break during peak farming seasons. This keeps the 125-day entitlement intact while letting people handle sowing and harvest.
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