Jaipur, July 2: Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma announced on Thursday that the Developed India Guarantee Employment and Livelihood Mission (VB-G Ram Ji) will introduce a new chapter in rural development. This initiative guarantees 125 days of employment for rural residents.
The Chief Minister participated in the state-level launch of the program via video conference from the Masuda Agricultural Produce Market in the Bhilwara district. The national launch was led by Union Minister for Rural Development, Agriculture, and Farmers’ Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, from Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh.
During the address, Sharma emphasized that this program aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a ‘Developed India,’ highlighting that the nation’s growth is rooted in the prosperity of its villages.
Sharma described VB-G Ram Ji as more than just an employment program. He characterized it as a comprehensive rural development initiative focused on water conservation, infrastructure development, livelihood creation, and disaster management.
He criticized the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), stating that poor planning and weak monitoring mechanisms have hindered its effectiveness. Sharma noted that previous projects resulted in temporary roads, incomplete water structures, and unplanned soil work, yielding minimal long-term benefits.
The Chief Minister also pointed out irregularities such as fake job cards, fraudulent beneficiaries, manipulated attendance records, and delayed or incomplete wage payments. He claimed that social audits were often ineffective or merely formalities.
Highlighting the new scheme’s features, Sharma mentioned that the guaranteed annual employment has been increased from 100 to 125 days. To prevent labor shortages in agriculture, state governments can declare a 60-day work halt during sowing and harvesting seasons.
This initiative will focus on sustainable assets related to water conservation, rural infrastructure, livelihoods, and disaster management. Transparency will be enhanced through geo-tagging, satellite imagery, mobile applications, and artificial intelligence (AI). Digital social audits will be conducted every six months.
A multi-tiered digital grievance redressal system with fixed timelines and district ombudsmen has been established. Weekly wage payments will be mandatory, and automatic compensation will be provided for delays exceeding two weeks.
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