Pherzawl: Pherzawl District today joined the nationwide rollout of the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission, Gramin (VB-G RAM G), a revamped rural employment programme that increases the statutory employment guarantee from 100 to 125 days while enhancing daily wages for rural workers.
The scheme was formally launched by the District Administration at the Conference Hall of the Deputy Commissioner’s Office in the presence of village authority members, civil society representatives, job card holders and district officials.
Launching the programme, Deputy Commissioner and District Programme Coordinator Anunay Anand, IAS, said the new legislation marks a significant step towards strengthening rural livelihoods through enhanced financial support and sustainable development. Under the new framework, the daily wage has been increased from ₹284 to ₹300, while eligible rural households will now be entitled to 125 days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year.
He said the programme aims to move beyond providing short-term employment by prioritising the creation of durable community assets such as water harvesting structures, drainage systems, rural roads, plantations and other productive infrastructure that would support long-term rural development.
Highlighting climate resilience as a key component of the scheme, the Deputy Commissioner urged village authorities to incorporate water conservation measures, flood and landslide mitigation works and other climate-adaptive infrastructure into their village development plans.
Anunay Anand further stated that the scheme would be implemented in convergence with major Central and State initiatives, including PM Gati Shakti and the Jal Jeevan Mission, to ensure integrated and sustainable development. He called upon village chairpersons and local bodies to prepare long-term, need-based development plans focused on water security, infrastructure and sustainable asset creation rather than limiting projects to temporary employment generation, assuring them of the district administration’s full support.
Earlier, ADC-cum-BDO, Tipaimukh, Zosanglur Joute, highlighted key provisions of the scheme, including the introduction of a 60-day pause provision that allows beneficiaries to temporarily suspend work during unavoidable circumstances such as peak agricultural seasons and Christmas celebrations without affecting the implementation of the scheme.
Following the district-level launch, participants joined the national inauguration programme organised by the Ministry of Rural Development through a live webcast.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Lalthanzam, BDO, Thanlon and Vangai Range.
With the implementation of the VB-G RAM G Act, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), 2005 stands repealed with immediate effect. Existing job cards will remain valid under the new framework, while ongoing works will continue uninterrupted to ensure a seamless transition.
