Union Minister for Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday reviewed the implementation of the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission (Gramin) [VB-G-RAM-G] through a video conference with Rural Development Ministers of all states and Union Territories.
During the meeting, he released the first instalment (Mother Sanction) of Rs 25,863 crore to the states for the implementation of the scheme.
Addressing the meeting, Chouhan said the Government had resolved to implement VB-G-RAM-G across the country without any disruption from July 1.
The Union Minister said he was happy to note that the scheme had been successfully rolled out across the country and that the transition from MGNREGA to VB-G-RAM-G had been smooth and seamless.
“So far, no technical or operational issues have been reported,” he said.
Chouhan said serving poor workers is akin to serving God. The Government’s objective is to ensure dignified employment, timely wage payments, and the creation of durable rural assets for rural workers, he said.
The Union Minister noted that while MGNREGA took nearly three years to be implemented across the country, VB-G-RAM-G has been rolled out nationwide in a single day.
He described this as a major achievement made possible by the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the cooperation of the states, and the country’s administrative capacity.
Chouhan said this reflects the Prime Minister’s commitment, good governance, and effective coordination.
Reviewing the initial progress, the Union Minister said work had commenced in a large number of Gram Panchayats during the first week, and employment had been provided to lakhs of rural workers.
He specially appreciated Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Rajasthan for generating a large number of employment opportunities on the very first day.
Chouhan urged Odisha and West Bengal to begin work in the remaining Gram Panchayats at the earliest and requested Jharkhand to notify the scheme and make the necessary budgetary provisions. States where RBI accounts or other formalities are still pending were also asked to complete them within a stipulated timeframe.
He said wage rates under VB-G-RAM-G have been increased by around 10 per cent, on average. No state in the country will now have a wage rate below Rs 300 per day, the Union Minister stated.
He said this reflects the Government’s commitment, under the leadership of the Prime Minister, to strengthening the income and social security of rural workers.
Chouhan said the first instalment of Rs 25,863 crore, released today, is aimed at ensuring that states have adequate funds so that wages can be paid within 15 days. He urged all state governments to release their matching share on time so that there is no delay in wage payments.
He made it clear that there would be no shortage of funds for the effective implementation of VB-G-RAM-G. The first instalment has been released based on the demand received from the states.
The Union Minister said Gram Sabhas and Gram Panchayats should select development works according to local needs to ensure inclusive and participatory rural development.
Emphasising transparency and accountability, the Union Minister said that Face Authentication, geo-tagging, and other technological measures must be implemented in full. He said there is no place for any irregularity or fraud in the scheme and that the Government is committed to ensuring transparency, credibility, and the creation of quality assets.
He further informed that the Ministry has deployed Area Officers, led by officers of the rank of Joint Secretary, to provide continuous support to the states. These officers will maintain regular coordination with the states and ensure the quick resolution of implementation-related issues.
In his address, Chouhan said timely wage payment is a shared responsibility of the Central and state governments.
“While the Government of India has fulfilled its responsibility by releasing the first instalment on time, the states are expected to release their share promptly so that every eligible worker receives wages within the prescribed time limit,” he said.