STATE TIME NEWS
JAMMU: Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G), a proposed Indian government bill from 2025 aiming to replace and overhaul the existing MGNREGA (rural employment) scheme, offering 125 days of guaranteed work per household, linking it to national infrastructure goals, and creating a modernized framework for rural development and livelihoods. This was stated by BJP MLA from Jammu East Yudhvir Sethi today in a press conference. He was joined by BJP District President Advocate Rajesh Gupta, General Secretary Ravikant, and Vice President Ramesh Gupta. Addressing the media, Yudhvir Sethi said that the scheme has become a major topic of national discussion, especially after Congress started protests against it.
He stated that the Modi Government has replaced the old MGNREGA with a much stronger, transparent, and people-friendly system. He added that while Congress is opposing the reform, the new scheme is meant to give more benefits and security to the common people.
Sethi explained that MGNREGA had serious weaknesses.
“Fake job cards were common, illegal payments were made, and false attendance was recorded. Even people above 80 years had job cards, and nearly 33 percent of cards were issued to those above 60 years. Workers often waited six to eight months to receive their wages. Despite spending more than Rs 10 lakh crore, there were no permanent assets visible in villages, which showed the deep corruption in the old MGNREGA system” Yudhvir Sethi asserted. He said that the new VB-G RAM G Yojana has corrected all these faults.
The employment guarantee has been increased from 100 days to 125 days, giving workers more income security, he said adding that even though 60 days are reserved for farming activities like sowing and harvesting, workers will still get 125 days of paid employment. This will help both farmers and labourers. The MLA said that water conservation is a key focus of the new scheme. “Old ponds, wells, and water bodies will be restored, and farmers can even build ponds in their own fields. This will strengthen irrigation and improve water availability in rural areas,” he said. He added that permanent infrastructure such as roads, hospitals, dispensaries, panchayat buildings, playgrounds, community halls, and working sheds will be built. “Special provisions have been made for disaster-affected areas like Jammu, where recent natural calamities damaged homes and land. Under this scheme, houses, retaining walls, and other damaged structures will be repaired and rebuilt.” Yudhvir sethi said. Sethi further said that decision-making has now been shifted to the grassroots. “Gram Sabha and Gram Panchayat will jointly decide which works are needed, while district-level plans will prioritize projects so that the most urgent needs are addressed first,” he said. He also highlighted the strong wage protection system. If work is not provided within 15 days, the worker will receive an unemployment allowance, and the government will have to pay a penalty. This ensures that no poor worker is denied his or her rightful income.
Women will get 33 percent reservation, and through Self-Help Groups, they can work together and earn independently without any qualification barrier. Panchayats will be graded A, B, C, and D, and funds will be allocated based on performance and need, he said.
“To ensure transparency, every worker will be linked to Aadhaar, and all projects will be geo-tagged so that payments are made only for real work. Funding will be shared by the Centre and States, with the Centre providing 90 percent in Himalayan states and 100 percent in Union Territories,” Yudhvir Sethi said.
The MLA added that youth will receive training in areas such as pond construction, check dams, water harvesting, environmental work, and technical skills. This will create skilled workers in villages and promote rural startups, reducing migration to cities.