New Delhi, 21 December (H.S.): President Droupadi Murmu has granted assent to the 'Viksit Bharat-Rozgar aur Aajeevika Mission (Gramin) Guarantee Bill, 2025' (VB-G Ram Ji), transforming it into law after its passage in both houses of Parliament. This landmark legislation ushers in major reforms to rural employment, increasing the statutory guaranteed workdays for rural households from 100 to 125 per financial year.

According to the Ministry of Rural Development, the Act replaces the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005, aligning with the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision. It aims to bolster income security in rural areas while creating sustainable, productive assets to foster inclusive and balanced development.

Key Provisions

Under the new law, providing at least 125 days of wage employment to willing rural households becomes the government's statutory obligation.

Wages must be paid weekly or within a maximum of 15 days, with mandatory compensation for delays.

To ensure agricultural labour availability, states may declare up to 60 consolidated pause days per financial year, without affecting the total 125-day entitlement—the balance will be provided subsequently.

All work plans require Gram Sabha approval and preparation by Gram Panchayats in a bottom-up process, with a digital platform ensuring national-level coordination across schemes and departments to prevent resource wastage and accelerate development.

Employment links to water conservation, rural infrastructure, livelihood structures, and disaster/climate resilience projects, integrating assets into the Viksit Bharat National Rural Infrastructure Stack.

Funding and Implementation

The scheme remains Centrally Sponsored: 60:40 cost-sharing for general states, 90:10 for Northeast and Himalayan states, and 100% central funding for Union Territories without legislatures. Administrative expense cap rises from 6% to 9%.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar