GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 5th July: Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday released the first instalment of ₹25,863 crore to states for implementing the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G-RAM-G), saying the new rural employment scheme has been rolled out seamlessly across the country from July 1.
Reviewing the implementation of the scheme through a video conference with Rural Development Ministers of states and Union Territories, Chouhan said the transition from MGNREGA to VB-G-RAM-G had been completed without any technical or operational issues.
The minister said VB-G-RAM-G has been implemented across the country in a single day under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, unlike MGNREGA, which took nearly three years to achieve nationwide coverage.
Chouhan said employment has already been generated for lakhs of rural workers during the first week of implementation and praised Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Rajasthan for starting a large number of works on the very first day.
He announced that wage rates under the scheme have been increased by around 10 per cent on average and that no state will now have a daily wage rate below ₹300. He said the government is committed to ensuring timely wage payments and strengthening the income security of rural workers.
The minister said the funds released would enable states to pay wages within 15 days and urged them to release their matching share without delay. He also assured states that there would be no shortage of funds for the effective implementation of the scheme.
Emphasising transparency, Chouhan directed states to fully implement face authentication, geo-tagging and other technology-driven monitoring systems to prevent irregularities and ensure the creation of durable rural assets.
