Jaipur, July 2 (IANS) Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma on Thursday said the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) marks a new chapter in rural development, assuring 125 days of guaranteed employment.
The Chief Minister participated in the state-level launch and public conference of the scheme via video conference from the Masuda Agricultural Produce Market in Beawar district.
The national launch was led by Union Minister for Rural Development, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan from Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh.
Addressing the gathering, Sharma said the scheme has been launched in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat’, emphasising that India’s development is rooted in the prosperity of its villages.
He described VB-G RAM G as more than an employment programme, calling it a comprehensive rural development initiative focused on water conservation, infrastructure creation, livelihood generation and disaster management.
The Chief Minister alleged that MGNREGA fell short of its intended goals due to poor planning and weak monitoring mechanisms while addressing the shortcomings of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
He said many projects under the previous scheme resulted in temporary roads, incomplete water structures and unplanned earthworks with little long-term benefit.
Sharma also alleged irregularities, including fake and duplicate job cards, bogus beneficiaries, manipulated attendance records and delayed or incomplete wage payments. He further claimed that social audits were often ineffective or merely procedural.
Highlighting the new scheme’s features, Sharma said annual guaranteed employment has been increased from 100 days to 125 days. State governments can declare a 60-day work break during sowing and harvesting seasons to prevent labour shortages in agriculture.
The scheme will focus on durable assets related to water conservation, rural infrastructure, livelihoods and disaster management.
Transparency will be strengthened through geo-tagging, satellite imagery, mobile applications and artificial intelligence (AI). Digital social audits will be conducted every six months.
A multi-level digital grievance redressal system with fixed timelines and district ombudsmen has been introduced. Weekly wage payments will be mandatory, with automatic compensation for delays beyond two weeks.
The ceiling on administrative expenditure has been raised from 6 per cent to 9 per cent to improve staffing, technical support, training and monitoring, he said.
Sharma said the scheme is backed by a sustainable financial framework with clearly defined annual labour budgets while retaining the demand-based employment model.
He alleged that misinformation was being spread about VB-G RAM G and described it as an example of cooperative federalism.
The Chief Minister announced that the Rajasthan government has allocated Rs 12,636 crore for the scheme in the 2026-27 financial year, calling it the highest-ever allocation for rural employment in the state.
He said the funds would be used to create permanent village assets, including roads and water infrastructure.
Referring to Devmali village, which has been recognised by the Government of India as the Best Tourist Village, Sharma said the village is known for its unique traditions, including the absence of permanent concrete houses and residents not using locks on their doors.
He announced the construction of a Rs 2 crore shelter facility for visitors in Devmali.
He also said renovation of the village pond and road development works would be taken up to boost tourism and improve local infrastructure.
The Chief Minister said the state government has undertaken major initiatives over the past two-and-a-half years to improve water and power supply across Rajasthan.
He noted that farmers in 26 districts are already receiving daytime electricity, and the government aims to extend daytime power supply to all districts by 2027.
He also reiterated the government’s commitment to providing 4 lakh government jobs to the state’s youth.
–IANS
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