Meghalaya Shifts from MGNREGA to New Rural Job Scheme

Shillong: Meghalaya is ditching the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma announced on June 30 that the state cabinet adopted a new rural employment law. The move follows a massive Rs 1,100 crore sanction from the Centre to fund the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission, also known as VB-G RAM G.

This new program runs until March 31, 2027. The funding structure for the initial nine-month period sets a 90:10 split, with the Centre picking up the bulk of the bill. Sangma noted, "Any expenditure beyond the sanctioned ₹1,100 crore will have to be fully borne by the state government."

The state operated under old MGNREGA rules for the first quarter of the year. Now, the new framework kicks in. It provides 125 days of guaranteed employment annually, a jump from the previous 100-day limit. The list of allowed work projects grows from 250 to over 320 categories.

Construction projects now include anganwadi centres and school buildings. The state also gains flexibility to focus on rural roads, water conservation, forest management, and livelihood generation. These changes aim to create more jobs while improving local infrastructure across the state.