Agartala, Feb 11 Union Minister for Agriculture, Farmers' Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday said that Rs 10 lakh crore would be spent across rural India over the next five years under the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB–G RAM G). He said that the scheme provides a comprehensive road map for building a Viksit Bharat.
Addressing a conference on the VB–G RAM G programme in Tripura’s capital Agartala, the Union Minister said that the scheme provides a comprehensive road map for building a Viksit Bharat and is designed to serve the interests of all sections of society.
Highlighting the key features of the programme, Chouhan said that the VB–G RAM G guarantees 125 days of employment, an increase from the earlier 100 days.
He said that Rs 1,51,282 crore has been allocated for the rural programme, while an additional Rs 55,000 crore would be provided through the Finance Commission, taking the total allocation to over Rs 2 lakh crore in a year.
The Union Minister further said that Rs 10 lakh crore would be spent in rural areas of the country under the VB–G RAM G programme over the next five years.
Chouhan said that there are 2.86 crore Gram Panchayats across the country and each Panchayat would receive between Rs 1.50 crore and Rs 2.75 crore over five years under the programme.
Drawing a comparison with previous governments, he said that during the UPA government, Rs 2.13 lakh crore was spent on rural job works over ten years, while the NDA government has spent Rs 8.54 lakh crore during the last ten years.
Under the VB–G RAM G scheme, provisions have been made to ensure that if employment is not provided after work is demanded, unemployment allowance will be paid to the beneficiaries.
In case of delays in wage payments, workers will be entitled to receive payments along with interest.
The administrative expenditure under the scheme has been increased from six per cent to nine per cent. This will ensure that there are no salary-related issues for Panchayat secretaries, employment assistants, clerical and technical staff.
Alleging that no significant development had taken place in rural Tripura during the earlier Left and Congress regimes, the Union Minister said that under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), pucca houses are being constructed to ensure that no poor family remains in a kutcha house.
Referring to criticism of the scheme, Chouhan said that a misleading campaign was being run against the VB–G RAM G Programme and asserted that people belonging to tribal and Scheduled Caste communities, along with other poor sections, would be the major beneficiaries.
During the event, the Union Minister also inaugurated and laid foundation stones for 179 rural development projects in Tripura, involving a total investment of Rs 546.79 crore.
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, Panchayat Minister Kishor Barman and Rural Development Department Secretary Abhishek Singh, among others, also addressed the gathering.
Addressing the event, Chief Minister Saha said that the VB–G RAM G Act has rectified several shortcomings of the MGNREGA.
“This change was necessary. It will ensure a higher work guarantee and enable better funding for rural development. Durable infrastructure will be created under this Act, and accountability will also be ensured. We have seen how workers were earlier misled in the name of providing work,” he said.
Noting that the new legislation would bring greater transparency, the Chief Minister said, "This Act reflects a significant shift in India’s approach to rural employment and rural development. Digital tracking and the minimisation of corruption are the key reasons behind the introduction of this Act. Earlier, the guaranteed employment was 100 days; now it has been increased to 125 days."
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