Haryana on Thursday launched the revamped Viksit Bharat Rozgar Evam Ajeevika Mission (VB-GRAMIN), becoming the highest-paying state under the rural employment scheme by fixing the daily wage at ₹409 while introducing faster wage payments, stricter accountability and technology-driven transparency measures.
Launching the state-wide implementation of the scheme from Kurukshetra, Haryana Development and Panchayats Minister Krishan Lal Panwar said workers would now receive their wages within seven days instead of the earlier 15-day timeline. He said officials responsible for delays in payments could face a penalty of ₹10,000, significantly higher than the previous provision of ₹1,000. Biometric attendance has also been made mandatory at all worksites to improve transparency and curb irregularities.
The Minister inaugurated the programme online from a pond excavation site in Shahzadpur village, while Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan addressed the event virtually.
Panwar said the Centre, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has released ₹590.19 crore for the scheme, while the Haryana Government led by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has contributed nearly ₹370 crore towards its implementation.
He said eligible rural workers would be required to register online, after which employment would be provided within 15 days following verification. Each registered family would be entitled to 125 days of guaranteed employment every year, while unemployment allowance would be provided if work is not offered within the prescribed period. Wages will be credited directly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system, and workers will also be eligible for 60 days of leave during sowing and harvesting seasons.
According to the Minister, the mission covers 318 categories of works, including water conservation, rural infrastructure, agriculture, livelihood generation, climate resilience, disaster mitigation, animal husbandry, fisheries, storage facilities, rural markets and skill development.
Highlighting the government’s focus on women’s economic empowerment, Panwar said dedicated financial support would be provided for training and skill development activities for women. He added that Haryana has around 70,000 Self-Help Groups and nearly three lakh women have already become “Lakhpati Didis”, while the government has set a target of increasing the number to five lakh.
Panwar also said he had submitted several proposals to the Union Rural Development Minister, including integrating maintenance work under PM Gram Sadak Yojana-IV with the employment programme, filling vacant posts related to the scheme, expediting the release of housing assistance under PM Awas Yojana and the Chief Minister Housing Scheme, and enhancing accidental insurance coverage for workers from ₹25,000 to ₹2 lakh.
Taking a swipe at the Congress, the Minister alleged that the party had opposed the legislation in Parliament despite it being an upgraded version of an existing rural employment programme. He said the present government has strengthened the scheme through greater transparency, digital monitoring and improved safeguards for workers’ welfare.