Jammu and Kashmir has officially notified the Viksit Bharat—Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), or VB-G RAM-G, a comprehensive new scheme set to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). The Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, has given his assent to the notification, paving the way for the scheme to be implemented across all designated rural areas of the Union Territory starting July 1, 2026. This significant reform in rural employment and livelihood generation is designed to align with the national vision of a developed India by 2047.
Information reaching TahirRihat.com suggests that the VB-G RAM-G scheme, established under the Viksit Bharat—Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act of 2025, aims to provide a guaranteed 125 days of wage employment annually to every eligible rural household that is willing to engage in unskilled manual labor. This represents an increase from the previous 100-day guarantee under MGNREGA. A key provision ensures that employment opportunities will be made available within 15 days of a household submitting a demand for work. Should this deadline not be met, the applicants will become eligible for an unemployment allowance. Furthermore, wage payments are to be processed on a weekly or fortnightly basis, with provisions for compensation in cases of delays, according to an official spokesman.
To safeguard agricultural productivity and ensure the availability of labor for farming, the new scheme mandates a 60-day pause in public works during critical periods of sowing and harvesting seasons. This measure is intended to prevent a labor shortage for agricultural activities. Concurrently, the VB-G RAM-G scheme places a strong emphasis on the creation of durable community assets and the development of sustainable livelihood infrastructure. The scheme’s focus areas are strategically defined as water security, core rural infrastructure, livelihood enhancement, and climate and disaster resilience, as detailed by the spokesman.
The planning process for the VB-G RAM-G scheme will be conducted through Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans (VGPPs). These plans will leverage GIS-based tools and PM Gati Shakti layers to ensure effective convergence of resources, promote saturation-based development, and prevent any duplication of efforts. The scheme also incorporates special provisions to support vulnerable groups, including single women, individuals with disabilities, senior citizens, members of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), released bonded laborers, and transgender individuals. These beneficiaries will be provided with dedicated Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Cards. A notable commitment within the program is that at least one-third of all beneficiaries must be women.
A cornerstone of the VB-G RAM-G scheme is its advanced digital governance framework. This includes the implementation of biometric and face-authenticated attendance systems, geofencing for work sites, GPS-enabled project monitoring, and AI-driven analytics. Real-time dashboards will provide transparency, and bilingual electronic muster rolls will be maintained. Mandatory public disclosures at worksites are also a key component. To uphold the primary objective of employment generation, the use of contractors and labor-displacing machinery is strictly prohibited under the scheme.
The implementation structure has been fortified with strengthened institutional oversight at the Union Territory, district, block, and Gram Panchayat levels. Gram Panchayats will continue to function as the primary implementing agencies, responsible for household registration, processing work applications, issuing guarantee cards, and overseeing the execution of approved works. The VB-G RAM-G scheme will operate as a centrally sponsored initiative, with a cost-sharing ratio of 90:10 between the Government of India and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
The administrative expenditure has been increased to bolster staffing, monitoring capabilities, grievance redressal mechanisms, and accountability systems. Substantial financial resources have been allocated for functionaries at the Gram Panchayat level. The framework includes a time-bound grievance redressal mechanism, mandatory social audits, independent evaluations, and multi-tier monitoring arrangements designed to ensure transparency, efficiency, and citizen accountability. With its enhanced employment guarantee, agriculture-sensitive design, technology-driven governance, and a focus on building resilient rural infrastructure, the VB-G RAM-G scheme is anticipated to usher in a new phase of inclusive, sustainable, and future-ready rural development in Jammu and Kashmir, according to the official spokesman.
Tahir Rihat (also known as Tahir Bilal) is an independent journalist, activist, and digital media professional from the Chenab Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India. He is best known for his work as the Online Editor at The Chenab Times.
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