PIB Kohima Organises Discourse on VB-G RAM G with Kohima Press Club KOHIMA — The Press Information Bureau (PIB) Kohima, under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, organised a discourse on the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission, Gramin (VB-G RAM G) with members of the Kohima Press Club (KPC) in Kohima on Wednesday. The event focused on the newly launched rural development initiative, which is a renamed version of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and is set to be implemented under the Ministry of Rural Development. VB-G RAM G, which has not yet commenced operations, aims to enhance rural employment through structural changes. Jayanta Choudhury, Head of the Department of Rural Development and Planning at Nagaland University, served as the resource speaker. He outlined the key differences between the new scheme and its predecessor, noting that VB-G RAM G introduces a guaranteed 125 employment days for rural workers. However, he emphasized that the program lacks provisions for inflation-linked wage adjustments or solutions to long-standing wage stagnation, which have been persistent issues under MGNREGA. Choudhury highlighted that the new scheme shifts a greater financial burden to state governments, with a 90:10 funding ratio for Northeastern states, Himalayan states, and Jammu and Kashmir, compared to the broader central funding model of MGNREGA. This shift could strain state budgets, particularly in economically weaker regions or areas with high migration rates. He also warned that unreliable digital infrastructure and poor network connectivity in rural, especially northeastern, areas may hinder the implementation of mandatory biometric attendance systems, a key feature of the new program.#nagaland_university #pib_kohima #kohima_press_club #vb_g_ram_g
PIB Kohima holds media workshop on Central Scheme 'VB GRAMG' The Press Information Bureau (PIB), Kohima, organized a one-day media workshop on the newly launched central scheme 'VB GRAMG' on March 25, 2026, at the Kohima Press Club Office. The event, part of the VARTA discourse series, focused on the Ministry of Rural Development's initiative aimed at transforming rural employment mechanisms. Prof. Jayanta Choudhury, head of the Department of Rural Development and Planning at Nagaland University, highlighted the central role of rural development in achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. He emphasized that sustainable rural growth is essential for inclusive progress, noting that over 80% of the world's poor reside in rural areas and that issues like hunger and malnutrition are predominantly concentrated there. Prof. Choudhury stressed the importance of localized Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and sustainable practices such as organic farming to address rural challenges. He argued that the development of urban centers is intrinsically linked to the strength of rural economies, suggesting that improved rural development could reduce migration to cities. The professor also underscored that the success of all SDGs hinges on effective rural development, positioning it as a cornerstone of India's national agenda. The workshop detailed the key features of VBGRAMG, a reformed rural employment scheme replacing MGNREGA. The scheme guarantees 125 days of wage employment per rural household, slightly higher than the 120 days under MGNREGA. It introduces a 60:40 central-state funding split, with North-Eastern and Himalayan states receiving 90% central funding. Prof.#pib_kohima #vb_gramg #nagaland_university #viksit_bharat #mgnrega
