Centre opinions states’ VB-G RAM G preparedness
New Delhi: The Ministry of Rural Improvement (MoRD) on Saturday reviewed preparedness of states and Union territories for the rollout of the Viksit Bharat–Assure for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025 (VB-G RAM G), which is able to exchange the Mahatma Gandhi Nationwide Rural Employment Assure Scheme (MGNREGS) from July 1, officers conscious of the developments stated.
The brand new regulation raises the statutory assure of wage employment for rural households from 100 days to 125 days in a monetary yr. Not like MGNREGS, which was demand-driven, the brand new framework offers for state-wise normative allocations mounted yearly by the Centre.
The high-level assembly, chaired by MoRD secretary Rohit Kansal, was attended by senior ministry officers and representatives of states and UTs, the officers stated.
Kansal reviewed key preparatory measures, together with notification of state-specific VB-GRAM G schemes, framing of state guidelines underneath the Act, technical integration for DBT-SPARSH and SNA-SPARSH cost techniques, and preparation of works via the Yuktdhara portal permitted by Gram Sabhas via participatory planning.
To make sure continuity throughout the transition, the ministry sanctioned ₹26,971 crore underneath MGNREGS in the direction of wage, materials, administrative and social audit elements.
An ample labour funds for June 2026, masking greater than 45 crore persondays, has additionally been permitted for all states and UTs based mostly on projected demand.
The ministry knowledgeable states that eight units of draft guidelines underneath the VB-GRAM G Act, 2025 have been printed within the e-Gazette on Might 22 for a 30-day public session earlier than finalisation.
These embody guidelines associated to grievance redressal, cost of wages and unemployment allowance, administrative bills and transitional provisions.
An indicative framework for categorising gram panchayats into A, B and C tiers has additionally been shared with states to help planning.
Kansal stated, “ongoing MGNREGS works as of June 30 could be carried ahead underneath the VB-GRAM G framework”, making certain that rural employment works proceed with out disruption throughout the agricultural lean season.
States have been additionally suggested to honour real employment demand and clear pending liabilities underneath MGNREGS earlier than the July 1 rollout of the brand new scheme.
