How GRAMG Differs From MGNREGA
New Delhi: Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) is a demand-driven programme, under which the Center is required to allocate additional funds whenever there is demand for jobs. In contrast, the Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, Viksit Bharat Guarantee for 2025 (VB-G RAM G Bill) provides a normative allocation to the States such that all expenditure beyond the prescribed limit will be borne by the State governments.
Under MGNREGS, 100 per cent of wage costs are borne by the Centre, while material costs are shared between the Center and the States in the ratio of 75:25. Under the VB-G RAM G scheme, which is also centrally supported, state governments will bear a larger share of the expenditure. The cost-sharing pattern will be 90:10 between the Center and the northeastern and Himalayan States and 60:40 for all other States and Union Territories with legislatures. For Union Territories without legislatures, the entire cost will be borne by the Centre.
Under the current rural employment guarantee scheme, year-round work can be claimed. However, the new Bill gives States the power to declare certain periods, including busy agricultural planting and harvest seasons, when work cannot be sought under the scheme.
MGNREGA provides for a wide range of permissible works, including water conservation, drought resilience, irrigation, restoration of traditional water bodies, land development and flood control. In contrast, the VB-G RAM G Bill limits work to four thematic focus areas: water security through water-related work, basic rural infrastructure, livelihood-related infrastructure, and extreme weather mitigation.
Under MGNREGA, gram panchayats are responsible for identifying projects within their jurisdiction. Decisions regarding the nature and prioritization of work are taken in open gram sabha or ward sabha meetings and approved by the panchayat. In terms of cost, at least 50 percent of the work is implemented through gram panchayats. Under the framework of VB-G RAM G, the works will emanate from the “Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans” prepared by the gram panchayats and integrated with the Prime Minister Gati Shakti National Master Plan.
While MGNREGA does not classify panchayats, the VB-G RAM G Bill mandates classification of panchayats into A, B and C categories based on development parameters and each of them is required to prepare saturation mode plans accordingly.
The VB-G RAM G Bill also envisions a comprehensive digital ecosystem, including biometric authentication at multiple levels, GPS or mobile-based workplace monitoring, proactive public disclosure and use of artificial intelligence for planning, audits and fraud risk reduction. There are no such provisions in MGNREGA.
