VB-G RAM G will help realise PM Modi's Viksit Bharat@2047 vision: Manipur CM
Imphal, July 2
Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Thursday said that the Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission would play a significant role in realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of Viksit Bharat @2047 by strengthening rural livelihoods and employment opportunities.
The Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act, 2025 came into force across the country on Wednesday (July 1).
Addressing the state-level Jan Sammelan-cum-Launching Programme of VB-G RAM G, the Chief Minister said that under the newly launched rural employment scheme, job card holders would now be entitled to 125 days of guaranteed employment instead of the earlier 100 days under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
He said that under the VB-G RAM G scheme, the daily wage has also been enhanced from Rs 283 to Rs 300.
The programme was organised by the state government's Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj at Salam Tharojam Eco Tourism Park in Imphal West district on Thursday.
Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen, who attended the programme through video conferencing, said that real development begins in villages. Kipgen, who also holds the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj portfolio, said that VB-G RAM G should emerge as a platform for convergence by integrating agriculture, horticulture, watershed development, soil conservation, the Jal Jeevan Mission, rural water conservation and National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) initiatives.
She said that such convergence would help create durable, productive and climate-resilient assets for rural communities while strengthening sustainable livelihoods.
Addressing the gathering, MLA Sorokhaibam Rajen Singh lauded the Chief Minister's peace initiatives, particularly his visits to areas that had remained inaccessible due to the law-and-order situation.
Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Commissioner Sumant Singh said that the VB-G RAM G Act, 2025 was passed by Parliament on December 19, 2025. He said that under the new scheme, every Gram Panchayat would prepare its own development plan and would be graded under four categories -- A, B, C and D.
The Commissioner further informed that the grading would be carried out by the state government and that the entire programme would be implemented through the PM Gati Shakti geospatial portal.
The nationwide launch of the VB-G RAM G scheme was led by Union Minister for Rural Development and Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan from Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh.
As part of the programme, Chief Minister Singh, along with other dignitaries, planted saplings to promote environmental conservation. State Arts and Culture and Tourism Minister Khuraijam Loken Singh, MLAs Karam Shyam Singh, Sapam Ranjan Singh and Sapam Kunjakeswor (Keba) Singh, besides senior government officials, attended the programme.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Finally something for rural employment that isn't just a photo op! The integration with Jal Jeevan Mission and NRLM is smart—villages need holistic development, not just dole money. But I wonder how many job card holders in Manipur will actually get these 125 days given the law and order situation there. 🤔
As someone from rural UP, I've seen how MGNREGA funds get eaten up by middlemen. The PM Gati Shakti portal for monitoring is a welcome change—digital transparency is the only way to stop tampering. But will Gram Panchayats in conflict-hit areas like Manipur even be able to function properly? The CM visiting previously inaccessible areas is positive, but ground reality is complex.
Interesting to see an Australian-style employment guarantee being expanded in India. The 125-day model with climate-resilient asset creation addresses both unemployment and climate adaptation. But ₹300/day is still below the minimum wage in most states. Viksit Bharat 2047 needs more ambitious wage rates to actually lift people out of poverty.
The planting of saplings alongside the scheme launch is symbolic but welcome! Manipur needs both employment and environmental restoration given its fragile ecosystem. My only concern is: with the ongoing ethnic tensions in the state, can this scheme reach all communities equally? The CM's peace initiatives are good but doesn't replace the need for grassroots trust.
Another scheme with a fancy acronym! VB-G RAM G sounds like a brand of something. But the substance is good—
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.