VB-G RAM G scheme more beneficial for rural India, says Shivraj Singh

Union Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has categorically stated that the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G), the reformed and new version of MGNREGA, will neither be a threat to farmers, workers, or unemployed ruralites, nor would it be detrimental to the process of rural development and seasonal agro-farm activities.

Addressing a Kisan Sammelan at Dangawas village near the historic Merta town in Nagaur district on Tuesday, Chouhan said, “Contrary to the wrong notion and negative narrative being raked up by the Opposition Congress, the ground reality is that the scheme has been reformed to provide additional benefits to rural India and its denizens, especially farmers, workers, and unemployed people from the weaker sections. It will also ensure the sustainable development of villages in accordance with the needs, aspirations, and opinions of villagers.

Advertisement

The Union Minister assured that all necessary clauses and provisions have been included in the VB-G RAM G Act, 2025, in a legitimate manner. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, Agriculture Minister Dr Kirodi Lal Meena, Social Empowerment Minister Avinash Gehlot, and several dignitaries were present.

Elaborating on the nitty-gritty of the new version of the scheme, Chouhan said that the government has expanded the scope of benefits, increased the ceiling on man-days of employment for the needy, and also raised the budgetary allocations to an all-time high.

He said the needy would now get employment for 125 days instead of the 100-day provision in the phased-out MGNREGA. During the Congress reign, budgetary spending on the erstwhile scheme was around Rs 40,000 crore, while in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rule, the figure has already crossed the Rs 1,00,000 crore mark, as Modi Ji has raised the allocation to Rs 1,51,282 crore in the new scheme.

There were general complaints about a shortage of labourers for farm activities during the crop sowing and harvesting seasons, as manpower preferred to join MGNREGA works. To address this situation, the new Act empowers local rural administrators to suspend in-progress works during crop seasons as per the local needs.

Union Minister Chouhan further said that decisions on development work proposals, based on the needs of the village, would also be made by local villagers at the Gram Sabha.

He also assured that the villages would witness sustainable development at a faster pace, following the hike in the minimum support price (MSP) of crops sown by local farmers.

“As per the needs and demands of the farmers, the Modi government will do all that is necessary. Over the past two years, more than Rs 29,000 crore has been provided to farmers in Rajasthan under various schemes, initiatives, and budgetary heads. Today, a budgetary sanction of Rs 2,000 crore has also been approved for laying more than 200 village roads,” he said.

Chief Minister Sharma also provided a detailed account of the state government’s pro-people welfare initiatives, which have been given higher priority in terms of employment generation.

The CM said that as many as 20,000 unemployed individuals would receive appointment letters for state government service within a week or so.

“My government has so far provided employment to 90,000 youngsters and is targeting to employ 4 lakh more during the current term in office. We are introducing a new youth policy that will give a boost to employment creation through a hassle-free, fair, and impartial recruitment process. We have so far formulated 28 new policies aimed at pro-people and development-centric governance,” the CM added.