The center will deploy 100 officers before the launch of VB-G RAM G | Today’s news
NEW DELHI: The Center will deploy more than 100 field officers across the country to help states and Union Territories transition to Viksit Bharat – Guarantee Mission for Rozgar and Ajeevika (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) as the government’s new rural employment framework enters the final phase of implementation ahead of its July 1 launch.
The officers will serve as facilitators and resource persons during the transition, working with state governments, district administrations and local-level officials to support implementation, build local capacity and resolve operational issues, the Ministry of Rural Development said in a statement on Friday.
Rural Development Minister Rohit Kansal said the mechanism is meant to strengthen coordination between the Center and states once the new framework comes into effect.
“Officers have already undergone orientation on key aspects of the law, including implementation procedures, institutional arrangements, technology platforms and support systems available to states,” Kansal said.
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The officers will assess readiness for implementation, facilitate knowledge sharing, support capacity-building efforts and help resolve issues that arise during the transition, according to the ministry. The initiative is aimed at ensuring uniform implementation and providing institutional support during the first months of the program.
The deployment is one of the final preparatory steps before the launch of VB-G RAM G, which seeks to expand the scope of rural employment support by integrating livelihood support, rural infrastructure creation, climate resilience and technology-based governance into a single framework.
The Viksit Bharat–Garantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act, 2025 was passed by Parliament last year as a successor framework to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
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The transition is taking place against a backdrop of continued demand for rural employment. Official figures show 17.44 million people were employed under the scheme in April, rising to 27.40 million in May. An additional 26.84 million people took up employment by June 19, underscoring the scale of the program that is transitioning to the new framework.
The Center has also stepped up further preparations for the rollout. It approved a provisional allocation of ₹95,692 crore as central share for FY27 and all States and Union Territories have joined the DBT-SPARSH platform for direct benefit transfers. Almost 93% of active workers have completed e-KYC formalities and facial verification based attendance system has been rolled out nationwide.
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According to the ministry, 27 states and Union territories have taken budgetary measures to implement the scheme. Six states and Union territories have notified their state-specific schemes under the new framework, while the rest are in advanced stages of finalizing implementation plans.
Rural rights activists said the scale of demand for public employment was critical to a smooth transition.
“The government must ensure that the shift to VB-G RAM G does not disrupt employment or wage payments for rural workers. With more than 26 million people already looking for work in June alone, the priority should be to strengthen implementation at the grassroots level and not just change the architecture of the system,” said Ashish Kumar Singh, president of the Citizens’ Forum, a civil rights group in Bihar’s Katihar district.
