Agriculture Minister Details Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan explained the benefits of the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) on Monday. This new legislation aims to enhance India’s rural employment system and address the shortcomings of the previous scheme, MGNREGA, which it will replace. Chouhan addressed concerns from the opposition about G RAM G changing the essence of the rural employment guarantee system, emphasizing that it is a progressive reform that will improve advantages for farmers.
A key difference between the two programs is that while MGNREGA provided 100 days of guaranteed work for unskilled laborers, VB-G RAM G extends the legal guarantee for wage employment to 125 days. Additionally, if employment is not provided within 15 days of applying, VB-G RAM G offers unemployment benefits, which were not available under MGNREGA.
The VB-G RAM G Bill 2005 was recently enacted into law after receiving approval from President Droupadi Murmu. This move marks a significant transformation of the primary rural employment initiative. Chouhan, in a blog post, clarified that the new law does not weaken existing entitlements but directly addresses their deficiencies.
Chouhan highlighted that VB-G RAM G does not diminish social protection but aims to convert a frequently unmet entitlement into a tangible, enforceable guarantee. By expanding guaranteed employment to 125 days and eliminating disqualification provisions from the MGNREGA era, the new law reinforces the right to demand and reinstates unemployment benefits as a genuine statutory safeguard.
Responding to concerns about the financial burden on state governments due to a 60:40 fund allocation, Chouhan emphasized that states will not merely act as implementing bodies but as partners in development. He stressed that states can implement their own schemes within the framework outlined in the Bill, ensuring equitable and rule-based allocations while maintaining implementation flexibility.
Emphasizing the government’s commitment to empowering the farming community, the rural development minister stated that VB-G RAM G represents a renewal of social protection rather than a retreat. He expressed confidence that this modern framework will deliver outcomes with dignity, predictability, and purpose.