By NE NOW NEWS
Guwahati: On Saturday, June 13, the Assam Cabinet approved the implementation framework for the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025 (VB-G RAM G), clearing the way for its rollout across the state from July 1, 2026, with an allocated budget of Rs 2,000 crore.
Briefing the media after the Cabinet meeting in Guwahati, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the new scheme will provide 125 days of guaranteed wage employment per rural household, an increase from the 90 days earlier offered under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
He said the revamped programme represents a shift from a purely employment-focused model to one that also emphasises rural asset creation alongside livelihood support.
“The central government has replaced MGNREGA with the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) in 2025. While the earlier scheme focused only on employment, this new framework combines job creation with asset development,” Sarma said.
Explaining the implementation approach, the Chief Minister said the objective is to ensure that public spending results in long-term developmental gains at the village level.
“Apart from providing employment, the scheme will ensure durable assets are created in villages. The VB-G RAM G programme will begin in Assam from July 1, and the Cabinet has allocated Rs 2,000 crore for the current year. On average, around Rs 1 crore will be provided per panchayat, with variations depending on size,” he added.
The government said the funds will be channelled through a structured system for grassroots-level development across panchayats.
Sarma further noted that detailed guidelines will be issued to local bodies to prioritise asset-building projects under the scheme.
“We will issue guidelines for panchayats to ensure targeted development. Works such as school boundary walls, crematoriums, village roads and similar infrastructure projects will be prioritised so that funds are effectively utilised,” he said.
The initiative is expected to enhance rural employment opportunities while simultaneously strengthening village-level infrastructure through decentralised implementation.