Packages released for implementation of ₹12,642 crore VB-G RAM G in Tamil Nadu on July 1

The objective of this scheme is to provide enhanced employment guarantee for 125 days in every fiscal to those from rural households engaged in unskilled manual labour. | Photo credit: C. VENKATACHALAPATHY

The Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday cleared the implementation of Vikshit Bharat guarantee of ₹ 12,642 crore for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Gramin (VB-G RAM G) in the state through a gazette notification.

Under the funding arrangement, which is 60:40 for the Union and state governments, the former’s contribution will be ₹7,585 crore and ₹5,057 crore, a state government official said.

The 23-page notification was issued by State Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Secretary Prashant M. Wadnere on Monday.

Ahead of the parliamentary passage of the new rural employment guarantee scheme in December last year, the previous DMK government strongly opposed the move. However, Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay told a rally last week that his government was clear about the difference between politics and maintaining an administrative relationship with the Centre.

The objective of this program is to provide a 125-day statutory job guarantee in each financial year to such rural households whose adult members voluntarily engage in unskilled manual labour, enabling them to participate more effectively in the expanded livelihood security framework. It will focus on empowerment, growth, convergence and saturation through public works, which will be merged to form the Viksit Bharat National Rural Infrastructure Package, with a thematic focus on water security through water-related works, basic rural infrastructure, livelihood-related infrastructure and special extreme weather mitigation works.

The notification stated that there would be a Rural Employment Guarantee Board headed by the Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (N. Anand), with officials as members and non-official members to be nominated by the State Government to represent Panchayat Raj institutions, NGOs and weaker sections of the society. This will inform the state government on all matters related to the scheme. There will be another body – the Steering Committee – which will provide “operational guidance, coordination and monitoring” of the implementation of the scheme. The latter will be headed by the Secretary for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj.

The scheme allows priority for works that seek to create individual property on land or homesteads owned by a range of persons, including those from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Nomadic Tribes and De-notified Tribes, economically weaker sections of society, households headed by women and households shared by persons with disabilities.

The official added that it was up to the state government to announce a 60-day curfew period during the “peak agricultural season” and the period could be divided into multiple slots for each district as needed.

Published – 30 Jun 2026 23:13 IST