Punjab govt rolls out VB-G RAM G to strengthen rural employment guarantee
The Minister said that while MGNREGA remained operational till June 30, 2026, the VB G RAM G scheme came into effect from July 1.
The Minister said that while MGNREGA remained operational till June 30, 2026, the VB G RAM G scheme came into effect from July 1.
A major change in the rural employment system has come into effect across Uttar Pradesh and the rest of the country with the Government of India officially replacing the MGNREGA with the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Gramin (VB-G RAM G) Act.
The Jharkhand government urged the Centre to release around Rs 900 crore pending under the material component of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and raise the daily wage rate for workers to Rs 433, flagging the impact of delayed payments and rising rural distress.
The Congress on Monday intensified its attack on the Centre over the proposed rollout of the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025, accusing the Narendra Modi government of attempting to centralise authority and dilute the legal protections available to rural workers under MGNREGA.
Jharkhand on Saturday raised concerns over pending MGNREGA dues, low wage rates and the proposed funding pattern under the Centre’s new rural scheme during a virtual meeting chaired by Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
The decision was taken at a meeting of board and corporation office-bearers, frontal organisation leaders and departmental heads held at the Congress Bhavan here under the chairmanship state Congress president Keshav Mahato Kamlesh.
States are expected to remain net gainers in fund sharing under the proposed (Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission) VB-G RAM G Act, and the framework can be further scaled up by states through their own contribution, according to a report by State Bank of India (SBI).
The BJP, however, rejected the Congress’s assertions. State BJP spokesperson Ajay Sah accused the Congress of repeatedly undermining democratic institutions and functioning as a family-centric organisation.
Rahul claimed that Prime Minister Modi single-handedly destroyed the MGNREGA scheme without consulting his Cabinet.
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.
