In a significant announcement, Bharatiya Janata Party's Assam President, Dilip Saikia, declared that the newly introduced Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), or VB-G RAM G, is set to revolutionize rural development by providing assured employment to every impoverished individual in the countryside.
A New Chapter in Rural Employment
Speaking on Wednesday, Saikia positioned the mission as a historic step aligned with the national goal of 'Viksit Bharat 2047'. He described VB-G RAM G as a transformative initiative, rooted in Gandhian ideals and propelling the nation towards the concept of 'Ram Rajya'. The scheme directly addresses the core need for livelihood security in rural India.
He contrasted this vision with the opposition, stating it was regrettable that the Congress and the INDI alliance maintained a hostile stance towards both the Viksit Bharat concept and the revered name of Lord Ram. Despite any political obstacles, Saikia expressed unwavering confidence that India will undoubtedly emerge as a developed nation by 2047.
From NREGA to VB-G RAM G: An Evolution
Saikia provided a historical recap of rural employment schemes, questioning the Congress's own record of renaming programs. He noted that the Jawahar Rozgar Yojana began in 1989 under Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. A decade later, the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government renamed it the Jawahar Gram Samridhi Yojana.
"In 2005, the Manmohan Singh government rechristened it as the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA). In 2009, the same government added the name of Mahatma Gandhi, renaming it the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS)," Saikia recounted. He pointedly asked whether these successive renamings by Congress regimes constituted an insult to Jawaharlal Nehru, the original namesake.
Key Features and Enhanced Benefits
The new VB-G RAM G mission brings substantial upgrades. While MGNREGS guaranteed 100 days of work per year, the new scheme increases this guarantee to 125 days. Recognizing the critical importance of agriculture, Saikia explained that 60 days of this work will be strategically deferred during sowing and harvesting seasons. This pause is designed to ensure ample labor is available for crucial farming activities, thereby safeguarding agricultural productivity.
A major financial incentive for the Northeast is the revised funding pattern. Under VB-G RAM G, Assam and all other northeastern states will receive funds in a favorable 90:10 ratio, with the central government bearing 90% of the cost and the state government contributing only 10%.
Saikia also highlighted the impact of governance reforms on poverty alleviation. He cited data showing a dramatic decline in India's poverty rate from 25.7% in 2011-12 to just 4.86% in 2023-24. The primary objective of VB-G RAM G is to build on this progress, ensuring comprehensive and sustainable rural development as the cornerstone for achieving a Viksit Bharat by 2047.
