Govt. to launch nationwide awareness campaign on VB-G RAM G scheme

The government is expected to soon launch a nationwide campaign to spread awareness about the benefits of Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) scheme passed by Parliament.

The Congress Working Committee will meet on December 27 to discuss the issue of replacing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) with the new law, VB-G RAM G. The party is reportedly planning to launch a campaign on the issue. MGNREGA was a flagship scheme introduced by the UPA-I government in 2005.

From this perspective, the government may also counter the objections raised by the Congress and its allies. The government said the new law will provide a legal guarantee of 125 days of paid employment each fiscal year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work; To promote empowerment, growth, convergence and fulfillment for a prosperous and resilient rural Bharat.

The government had earlier said: “The bill provides for institutionalization of all relevant plans through a unified planning process based on Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans, captured in the Viksit Bharat National Rural Infrastructure Stack. The bill provides robust transparency and accountability mechanisms through technology-enabled architecture and implementation through legal and administrative provisions.”

Under the Act, all work undertaken will be brought under the Viksit Bharat National Rural Infrastructure Stack and thematic priority will be given to water security, basic rural infrastructure, livelihood-related infrastructure and special work on mitigating the impact of extreme weather events and disaster preparedness.

Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans will be aggregated at block, district and State levels to align with broader sectoral priorities; It was prepared using spatial technology and integrated with PM Gati Shakti. In order to facilitate the availability of farm labor during the peak planting and harvest seasons, States will have the authority to provide notice of periods totaling up to 60 days in a fiscal year during which work covered by the law will not be carried out.

It will operate as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) with fund sharing model of 90:10 for the North-Eastern and Himalayan States/UT and 60:40 for all other States. The law provides for unemployment benefits to be paid by State governments at specified rates in case work is not provided within 15 days.