Tirupati, July 2: The ‘Developed India – G Ramji Scheme’ was officially launched on Thursday in Mukkuvaripalli village, Tirupati district, Andhra Pradesh. The event was attended by Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, Union Minister of State Dr. Chandrashekhar Pemmashani, and Kamlesh Paswan, along with numerous MPs, MLAs, and thousands of community members. This initiative aims to provide guaranteed employment for the poor workers, farmers, and villages across the country, backed by substantial financial allocations and a transparent system.
In his address, Shivraj Singh Chouhan began with the chants of ‘Namah Venkateshwaraya’ and ‘Govinda, Govinda’, expressing that the launch of the Developed India – G Ramji Scheme from this sacred land is akin to a divine blessing for the poor and laborers. He prayed that no laborer in the country remains unemployed and that every hand finds work and every stomach receives food. He sincerely thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for this commitment.
Chouhan reminded attendees that the previous UPA government’s MGNREGA scheme guaranteed only 100 days of employment. He highlighted that under Prime Minister Modi’s new strategy, the Developed India – G Ramji Scheme now guarantees 125 days of work for laborers. This is not merely an increase in days but a shift in mindset, with the goal of ensuring that no hand remains empty. He proudly noted that on the first day of the scheme’s implementation, millions of laborers across the country found work, transforming MGNREGA into the more effective VB-G Ramji model.
Discussing the financial aspects, Chouhan stated that the central government’s contribution to the Developed India – G Ramji Scheme in its first year will exceed ₹95,000 crores. When combined with the states’ 40% share, the annual expenditure will approach ₹1.51 lakh crores. He mentioned that over the next five years, a total of ₹7.5 lakh crores is targeted for this scheme, which will reach 2.86 lakh panchayats, providing each panchayat with an average of over ₹2 crores annually. This funding will enhance employment in villages and create lasting assets.
Chouhan emphasized that the rights of laborers have been legally strengthened under the Developed India – G Ramji Scheme. Any laborer requesting work must be provided employment within 15 days, and if not, they will receive unemployment benefits. He stressed that no one can exploit the laborers’ sweat anymore. To address the longstanding issue of delayed wages, the scheme includes provisions for paying delayed wages with interest, ensuring that laborers receive full compensation for their efforts.
To ensure effective implementation, the administrative expenditure has been increased from 6% to 9%. This includes over ₹13,000 crores allocated for the salaries and benefits of village employment assistants, mates, and other ground staff. Chouhan asserted that timely payment of wages is crucial for these workers to maintain a strong system.
He clarified that decisions regarding which projects will be undertaken in villages will not be made from Delhi or Amaravati. The authority to determine work will rest with the gram panchayat and gram sabha. He provided examples, stating that the village community will decide whether to build an anganwadi, school, hospital, road, or any other infrastructure. The essence of the G Ramji scheme is that decisions are made at the village level.
Chouhan urged states to categorize their panchayats into grades A, B, and C, allowing for accelerated funding to those that are lagging in development. This will enhance the pace of development in rural and underdeveloped areas. In the context of Andhra Pradesh, he announced a special allocation of ₹7,707 crores for the Developed India – G Ramji Scheme for a period of just nine months. This package, along with the state government’s contribution, will position Andhra Pradesh among the top states in the country, providing significant strength for rural employment and development.
He also announced that no state will have wages below ₹300, with Andhra Pradesh setting the rate between ₹312 and ₹315 to ensure laborers receive fair compensation.
Additionally, Chouhan revealed major benefits for poor families and villages under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Gramin and Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana – Chaturth. He stated that Andhra Pradesh has been approved for 74,212 new permanent houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, ensuring no eligible poor family lives in a temporary structure. Furthermore, he addressed the concerns of villages lacking proper roads, announcing the approval of over ₹422 crores for the construction of 146 new roads and 19 bridges. Chouhan assured that as villages grow, India will transform, and the central government will spare no effort in the complete rural development of Andhra Pradesh.
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