Sri Vijaya Puram, July 12: Rural India has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past two decades. Better connectivity, improved financial inclusion, digital governance and expanding livelihood opportunities have changed the aspirations of millions living in villages. Recognising these changing realities, the Government of India has introduced the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act, 2025, a landmark initiative designed to strengthen employment security while creating productive assets that contribute to sustainable rural development. The new legislation builds upon the achievements of MGNREGA and aligns rural employment with the national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
The most significant feature of the new scheme is the enhancement of the employment guarantee from 100 days to 125 days of wage employment for every eligible rural household in a financial year. The Act also introduces a balanced approach by providing an aggregated 60-day pause in public works during peak sowing and harvesting seasons, ensuring that farmers have adequate labour availability when it is needed most. Timely wage payments—generally on a weekly basis or within a fortnight—are expected to provide greater financial security to rural families.
Unlike traditional wage employment programmes, the VB-G RAM G Scheme links employment with the creation of durable and productive assets. The programme focuses on four major priority areas: water security, core rural infrastructure, livelihood infrastructure and climate resilience. Investments in water harvesting structures, irrigation systems, rural roads, storage facilities and disaster mitigation works are intended to improve agricultural productivity, strengthen village infrastructure and enhance resilience against climate change. Every work created under the programme is expected to generate long-term benefits for rural communities rather than merely providing temporary employment.
An important innovation under the scheme is the preparation of Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans (VGPPs) through active participation of Gram Sabhas. These village development plans are integrated with national planning platforms such as PM Gati Shakti, enabling better coordination between local priorities and broader infrastructure development goals. This decentralised planning model empowers Gram Panchayats while ensuring that rural development projects are better aligned with local needs.
Technology plays a central role in the implementation of the scheme. Digital registration, Aadhaar-based authentication, online work allocation, electronic attendance, direct wage payments and integrated monitoring systems make programme delivery faster, more transparent and more accountable. The supporting payment systems—SNA-SPARSH and DBT-SPARSH—facilitate just-in-time fund releases and direct benefit transfers, reducing delays and improving financial efficiency.
Transparency has also been strengthened through artificial intelligence-based monitoring, GPS-enabled tracking of works, mobile-based inspections, real-time dashboards and regular social audits conducted by Gram Sabhas. These measures are designed to improve public accountability while ensuring that community participation remains central to programme implementation.
The benefits of the VB-G RAM G Scheme extend beyond employment generation. Improved irrigation, better roads, enhanced storage facilities and strengthened market connectivity are expected to increase agricultural productivity, diversify rural livelihoods and reduce distress migration. Investments in climate-resilient infrastructure will also help villages better withstand floods, droughts and other extreme weather events, contributing to long-term sustainability.
As India moves towards the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, the Viksit Bharat – G RAM G Scheme represents a forward-looking model of rural development. By combining employment security with infrastructure creation, digital governance, environmental sustainability and participatory planning, the programme seeks to transform villages into engines of inclusive economic growth. Its success will depend on effective implementation and active participation by Gram Panchayats, local institutions and rural communities, ensuring that developed Gram Panchayats become the foundation of a developed India.
