In a twist, Punjab government announces VB-G RAM G scheme

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann speaks in the State Assembly. File | Photo credit: ANI

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab, which opposed Viksit Bharat-Garantee Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Gramin (VB-G RAM G), has announced a rural employment scheme to come into force in the state from July 1.

In December 2025, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s government convened a special session of the Punjab Assembly, which unanimously passed a resolution against the VB-G RAM G Bill. In December 2025, the Assembly unanimously passed a resolution against the VB-G RAM G Bill, accusing the BJP-led central government of “taking away” the livelihood of poor and Dalit laborers by repealing the Rural Employment Guarantee Act Mahatma Gandhi (MGNREGA) on the basis of “deliberate conspiracy”. The House recommended that the Punjab government urge the Center to immediately restore MGNREGA to its original rights-based form.

The June 26, 2026 announcement brought about a reversal from this position. “In order to align the rural development framework with the national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 by providing enhanced statutory employment guarantee of one hundred and twenty five (125) days in every financial year to such rural households whose adult members voluntarily engage in unskilled manual labour…And to focus on employment, growth, convergence and saturation, the Government of Punjab is pleased to announce RozaranteGit-Bharat Bharata Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Scheme, Punjab 2026, under the provisions of the Viksit Bharat-Garantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025,” said a notification issued by the Ministry of Rural Development and Panchayats.

Congress criticizes AAP

The opposition Congress criticized the AAP government and asked on the basis of what “agreement and compromise” it had with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to introduce the plan in Punjab.

The timing of the implementation of the scheme in Punjab was as important as it was surprising, said Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring. “Does the sudden implementation of the plan have anything to do with the ongoing controversy surrounding the chief minister?” he said, referring to the recent sacrilege controversy involving Mr. Mann.

Published – 27 Jun 2026 21:25 IST