VB-G RAM G Act to Strengthen Rural Development: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami

Dehradun, January 07, 2026 (News Bureau)
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami described the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Employment and Livelihood Mission Rural (VB-G RAM G Act) as a historic step in strengthening rural India. Speaking to the media at the Secretariat’s Media Centre on Tuesday January 06, 2026, the Chief Minister said that the new Act is not merely a renaming of MGNREGA but a structural reform of the rural employment policy, designed to empower villages and make them self-reliant.

He said the Act will be pivotal in building the foundation of Viksit Bharat by ensuring protection for farmers, employment for workers, respect for women, and the holistic development of villages.

Under the new Act, rural households will now be entitled to 125 days of guaranteed employment annually—25% more than before. The Chief Minister said that if work is not provided within 15 days, an unemployment allowance will be mandatorily paid, with clear accountability fixed on officials. Payments will be made on a weekly basis, and compensation will be provided in case of any delay.

Emphasizing technology-driven transparency, Dhami said that VB-G RAM G integrates biometric attendance, geo-tagging, GIS mapping, AI-based fraud detection, a public dashboard, and mandatory biannual social audits, ensuring the scheme remains corruption-free.

Highlighting the Act’s pro-farmer provisions, he said that during sowing and harvesting seasons, work under the scheme can be legally paused for up to 60 days, preventing labor shortages and helping stabilize agricultural costs.

Dhami said that Gram Panchayats and Gram Sabhas have been given real power under the Act. Development works will be identified and approved locally by the Gram Sabha, with at least 50% of projects executed directly at the Panchayat level. Local bodies will also manage job card issuance, registration, and project planning.

The Chief Minister added that the scheme will prioritize projects related to water conservation, rural infrastructure, livelihood creation, and disaster management, such as ponds, check dams, schools, hospitals, self-help group (SHG) sheds, and skill centers.

A special focus has been placed on women empowerment, with the creation of rural haats, sheds, and skill centers for women associated with self-help groups, enabling them to earn livelihoods within their own villages.

Dhami said the administrative framework has also been reinforced—raising administrative expenditure from 6% to 9% to support training, honorarium, and monitoring of Gram Rozgar Sahayaks, Field Assistants, and Technical Assistants. This will enhance work quality, ensure timely payments, and strengthen oversight.

The Chief Minister further noted that financial management has been made fair and predictable, with a 60:40 funding ratio for general states and 90:10 for Himalayan and North-Eastern states. This means that a Himalayan state like Uttarakhand will receive 90% financial support from the Central Government, ensuring accelerated rural development without burdening the state exchequer.

He added that the Act will play a crucial role in water conservation, disaster management, and rural infrastructure in Uttarakhand, helping make the state’s villages more self-reliant, resilient, and prosperous.

Citing an SBI analysis, Dhami said that states are expected to gain a net benefit of about ₹17,000 crore through this Act. “This is not an anti-poor policy,” he said, “but a decisive step against the root causes of poverty.”

The Chief Minister concluded that under VB-G RAM G, workers will receive more workdays, timely wages, legal accountability, and transparent implementation through technology.

On this occasion, Rajya Sabha MP Mahendra Bhatt and MLA Dalip Rawat were also present.