Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, during his visit to Ahilyanagar in Nashik district on Friday, laid out the significant advantages of the recently relaunched employment guarantee initiative, the Vikasit Bharat G RAM G. Addressing farmers in Loni village, the minister positioned the new scheme as a major upgrade from the previous Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) framework.
Addressing Farm Labour Shortages Head-On
Minister Chouhan directly tackled a long-standing grievance from the agricultural community. He acknowledged frequent complaints that MGNREGA works often led to a scarcity of farm labourers during critical sowing and harvesting periods, causing potential losses for farmers.
"The new system includes an intentional structural design to prevent labour shortages during peak seasons," Chouhan stated. He explained that the Vikasit Bharat G RAM G adopts a flexible policy where its works will be suspended for 60 days annually, specifically coinciding with the peak agricultural seasons of sowing and harvesting.
"This will ensure that workers are available for agricultural work and losses to the farmers are prevented. In this way, a proper balance between agriculture and employment guarantee will be achieved through this scheme," the Union Minister added.
Stronger Safeguards for Worker Rights and Payments
Shifting focus to the rights of workers under the scheme, Chouhan emphasised stringent provisions for timely wage payments. He assured that wages would be deposited directly into workers' bank accounts within one week of work completion, or a maximum of 15 days.
The minister outlined a penalty clause for administrative delays, stating, "If, due to administrative reasons, the payment is not made within 15 days, there is a provision that the workers will get the amount with an interest of 0.05%."
Furthermore, he highlighted a crucial accountability measure: if the administration fails to provide employment after a work request, providing an "unemployment allowance" will be mandatory.
Advocating Integrated Farming for Climate Resilience
Later, at a program organised at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra under Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University, Chouhan addressed the broader challenges facing agriculture. He pointed to the increasing financial strain on farmers due to changing weather patterns and natural disasters.
To combat this, the minister stressed the importance of adopting integrated farming systems. "At such times integrated farming systems are essential to enhance sustainable economic productivity by combining agriculture with allied businesses," he said, advocating for a diversified approach to build resilience and ensure steady income.
The minister's visit and detailed announcements mark a significant push to promote the revamped employment guarantee scheme, aiming to create a more harmonious ecosystem between guaranteed wage work and the vital needs of India's agricultural cycle.
