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Gujarat's Digital Village Boost: Minimum Rs 20 Pay for Computer Entrepreneurs

The Gujarat government has introduced a major policy to support its rural digital workforce. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has set a minimum payment of Rs 20 per unit of work for Village Computer Entrepreneurs. This decision standardizes pay that previously varied widely between different government departments. It's a significant step toward ensuring fair and stable income for those providing essential digital services in villages.

Key Points: Gujarat Sets Rs 20 Minimum Pay for Village Computer Entrepreneurs

  • CM Bhupendra Patel approved the pay floor to standardize previously unequal commission rates
  • VCEs handle critical documents like land records, birth certificates, and farmer registrations
  • A new circular mandates all state departments comply with the Rs 20 minimum rule
  • The move aims to stabilize earnings for thousands of rural digital service providers
2 min read

Gujarat govt fixes minimum Rs 20 per unit payment for village computer entrepreneurs

Gujarat mandates a minimum Rs 20 per unit payment for Village Computer Entrepreneurs under the e-Gram scheme, ensuring fair compensation for rural digital services.

"bring parity in remuneration for VCEs who deliver essential e-governance services in villages. - Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel"

Ahmedabad, Dec 12

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has approved a minimum payment of Rs 20 per unit of work for Village Computer Entrepreneurs (VCEs) engaged under the state’s e-Gram Vishwagram programme.

The decision was taken during the 12th Governing Body meeting of the e-Gram Vishwagram Society in Gandhinagar, where the Chief Minister emphasised the need to bring parity in remuneration for VCEs who deliver essential e-governance services in villages.

VCEs handle a wide range of digital tasks for rural citizens -- including copies of land records (7/12, 8-A and Hak Patrak), farmer registrations, procurement entries for agricultural produce, birth and death certificates, income certificates, ration card updates, and various online applications.

They are also entrusted with data-entry work for multiple government schemes. Until now, payments to VCEs varied widely because each government department set its own commission rates for different tasks. This often resulted in inconsistent and unequal compensation for the same amount of effort across departments.

Taking cognisance of the issue, the Chief Minister directed officials to standardise the payment structure to ensure that every VCE receives at least Rs 20 per unit of work, regardless of the department assigning the task. Following his instructions, the Panchayat Department has issued an official circular mandating all state departments to comply with the revised minimum payment rule.

Departments have also been asked to inform both the Panchayat Department and the e-Gram Vishwagram Society before assigning any work to VCEs. The move is expected to provide more stable and equitable earnings for thousands of young digital entrepreneurs who form the backbone of last-mile service delivery in rural Gujarat.

Gujarat’s villages are a blend of rich heritage, vibrant culture, and strong grassroots development, spread across diverse regions like Kutch, Saurashtra, North and Central Gujarat. Each village has its own identity -- whether it’s the craft clusters of Kutch known for embroidery and mud-work, the lush agricultural belts of Anand and Kheda famous for dairy farming, or the coastal settlements of Saurashtra shaped by fishing and maritime traditions.

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- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priyanka N
Finally some parity! My cousin in a village near Mehsana is a VCE. She used to get Rs 10 for a land record and Rs 50 for a farmer registration from different depts. Same effort, different pay. This Rs 20 minimum brings much-needed fairness.
A
Aman W
Good move, but implementation is key. Will all departments actually comply? And what is a "unit of work"? A simple certificate vs. a complex procurement entry? The circular needs to clearly define this to avoid new confusion.
S
Sarah B
As someone who has worked on rural digitalization projects, this is a foundational step for sustainability. Consistent income will attract more youth to become VCEs, strengthening the entire e-governance ecosystem. Well done, Gujarat.
K
Karthik V
₹20 per unit seems low for the skilled work they do, especially in today's economy. But it's a start and better than the unpredictable payments before. Hope this is reviewed and increased periodically based on inflation.
M
Meera T
This will empower so many young people in villages! Digital seva is becoming a real career option. My niece in Kutch wants to set up a centre now. The government must also ensure timely payments, not just minimum rates.

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