125 Days Rural Employment Guaranteed: New Act from July 1

Addressing the media in Bhopal, Chouhan said the new law will raise guaranteed rural employment from 100 days to 125 days for workers seeking work.

He said the Act aims to expand job opportunities and strengthen livelihood security for labourers, women, farmers, and self-help groups.

"The notification for the Viksit Bharat G-RAM-G Act has been issued and from July 1, labourers in rural areas seeking work will get 125 days of employment instead of 100 days," Chouhan said.

He clarified that all provisions of MGNREGA would continue during the transition period. Unfinished works under the existing scheme will be completed before the new framework takes full effect, he added.

The Centre is holding extensive consultations with states to finalise rules for implementation. Chouhan said the priority is to ensure no worker is deprived of employment during the transition.

Most states will get up to six months to complete preparations under the new system.

However, if any state is unable to finish preparations by July 1, the funding pattern for works undertaken after that date will still shift to the VB-G RAM G framework, he said.

On finances, Chouhan said the Centre has allocated more than Rs 95,000 crore in the Budget under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.

With states also making budgetary provisions, the combined annual allocation of the Centre and states would exceed Rs 1.51 lakh crore.

Wages under the scheme will be transferred directly into workers' bank or post office accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer.

"Our effort will be to make payments within three days, but in any case wages will be credited within 15 days. If there is a delay beyond 15 days, workers will get delayed payment compensation," Chouhan said.

Unemployment allowance will also be paid if employment is not provided on demand, he added.

The scheme will cover a wide range of rural works, including water conservation, roads, bridges, culverts, schools, Anganwadi buildings, and farm-related infrastructure.

Infrastructure such as working sheds for self-help groups and Farmer Producer Organisations can also be developed under the programme.

To improve implementation, the administrative expenditure component has been raised from 6 per cent to 9 per cent. This will ensure timely payment of salaries to staff handling the scheme, Chouhan said.

Calling it a major step towards rural transformation, Chouhan expressed confidence that the Act would improve the lives of labourers and help achieve the vision of developed villages for a developed India.

The minister said the new law will bring more accountability, faster payments, and better infrastructure to rural areas while keeping the core employment guarantee intact.

- IANS