Himachal Pradesh CM Criticizes Replacement of MNREGA, Promises to Address Central Government Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu of Himachal Pradesh expressed concerns about the discontinuation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) and the introduction of the VB-G RAM G scheme, stating that the shift is not in the state’s interest. During a departmental review meeting of the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department in Shimla on July 8, 2026, Sukhu emphasized that the central government’s decision to replace MNREGA with the new scheme places an undue financial burden on the state. Under MNREGA, the central government provided 100% funding, but the VB-G RAM G requires the state to cover 10% of the expenditure, a move Sukhu argued would strain the state’s already limited resources. The VB-G RAM G (Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Gramin) is a central rural employment scheme that took effect on July 1, 2026, replacing the two-decade-old MNREGA. The new scheme guarantees 125 days of unskilled manual wage employment annually per eligible rural household, aiming to boost income security and infrastructure development. Sukhu highlighted that while the central government’s intent to modernize rural employment programs is commendable, the financial implications for Himachal Pradesh are significant. He stated that the state government will take up the issue with the central authorities to address the funding disparity. During the meeting, Sukhu also outlined measures to strengthen rural development initiatives. He directed that vacant posts in the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department be filled on a priority basis to improve administrative efficiency.#sukhvinder_singh_sukhu #himachal_pradesh #vb_g_ram_g #mnrega #rural_development_panchayati_raj_department
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
