Parliament Question: Implementation of VB-G RAM-G in Punjab

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3682 ANSWERED ON 11/08/2026 IMPLEMENTATION OF VB-G RAM-G IN PUNJAB

3682. Dr. Amar Singh:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has notified the implementation of Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rojgar and Aajeevika Mission (VB-G RAM-G) in Punjab with effect from 1 July 2026, if so, the key features of the scheme;

(b) whether the Government has taken note that, as per its own data, very few workers in Punjab received the full 100 days of guaranteed employment under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), if so, the details thereof and the steps taken to ensure that eligible workers receive the promised number of workdays under VB-G RAM G;

and

(c) the quantum of pending labour wage payments and material payments due to Punjab under MGNREGS/VB-G RAM G along with the timeline for their release as on 1 July 2026? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI KAMLESH PASWAN)

(a): Consequent upon enactment of Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G), Act 2025, the VB-G RAM G scheme has been successfully implemented in rural areas of the entire country with effect from 1st July, 2026. All States and Union Territories including Punjab have notified the Scheme and have started works under VB-G RAM G by providing employment to the willing households as per the provisions of the Act. The transition from Mahatma Gandhi NREGA to VB-G RAM G has been smooth, seamless and worker-centric. Over 9.69 Crore person days have been generated in approximately within a month of the rollout of the scheme in the country. The brief features of the VB-G RAM G Scheme are given at Annexure.

Page 1 of 4(b): While the responsibility of implementation of the Scheme is vested with the concerned States/UTs, the Ministry closely monitors the implementation of the scheme and provides necessary support to States to ensure that all eligible rural households are able to avail the employment as per their demand. In case of Punjab 99.71 % of workers were offered employment against their demand in FY 2025-

26. Under the VB-G RAM G Scheme statutory guarantee for employment has further been strengthened by increasing the guaranteed days of wage employment up to 125 days against 100 days available under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS. In order to ensure that workers are provided employment against their demand, States/UTs have been advised to maintain adequate shelf of works, undertake advance planning and make workers aware about their rights.

(c): Under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS, the wage payments are directly credited by the Central Government to the accounts of the beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer protocol. At the beginning of each financial year, admissible pending liabilities of the previous years, if any, are duly reimbursed by the Government of India. Accordingly, all due and admissible pending wage liabilities upto FY 2025-26 have already been cleared.

With regard to Material components, States/UTs are required to furnish fund release proposals to the Government of India. The Central Government releases funds periodically in two tranches with each tranche consisting of one or more instalments, keeping in view the “agreed to” Labour Budget, demand for works, opening balance, pace of utilization of funds, pending liabilities, overall performance and subject to submission of relevant documents by the States/UTs.

During the current financial year 2026-27 (as on 05.08.2026), Rs.

245.97 crore (including Rs.167.86 crore for Wage & Rs. 67.31 crore for Material Component) have been released to the State of Punjab under the Mahatma Gandhi NREGS. With regard to VB- G RAM G Scheme it is stated that an Interim Allocation of Rs. 1331.61 crore has been made as Central Share for financial year 2026-27 for the period between 01.07.2026 to 31.03.2027 to the State of Punjab.

Subsequently, Mother Sanctions amounting to Rs. 439.80 crore have been issued as first instalment for various components based on the proposal received from the State.

The pending liability under the Wage & Material components under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS stands at Rs. 0.29 crore and Rs.178.52 crore respectively. All States/UTs including Punjab have been requested to submit proposals for pending liabilities, if any for previous financial years to enable this Department to examine the same and release all eligible payments expeditiously.

***** Page 2 of 4Annexure Annexure referred to in the reply to part (a) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3682 dated 11.08.2026.

The features of the VB-G RAM G Act, 2025

1. Enhanced livelihood guarantee: The principal objective is to align rural development with Viksit Bharat @ 2047 by strengthening the livelihood guarantee framework through 125 days of wage employment per financial year for rural households whose adult members volunteer for unskilled manual work.

2. Viksit Gram Panchayat Plan (VGPP) based planning: Planning will be undertaken through Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans, prepared by Gram Panchayats through Gram Sabha and integrated with national spatial planning systems, while factoring in varying local developmental needs.

3. Four Priority Thematic Areas

(i) Water security: Water related works such as conservation structures, irrigation support, groundwater recharge, rejuvenation of water bodies, watershed development and afforestation will strengthen water security across rural regions.

(ii) Core rural infrastructure: Essential civic, social and service delivery assets like rural roads, public buildings, school infrastructure, sanitation systems, renewable energy facilities and housing work under Central Government schemes will ensure better basic amenities and improved access to services.

(iii) Livelihood related infrastructure: Productive assets for agriculture, livestock, fisheries, storage, markets, skill development, and circular economy models will support sustainable livelihoods, value addition, and diversified rural income opportunities.

(iv) Special works for extreme weather events: Disaster preparedness and climate adaptation works such as shelters, embankments, flood management structures, rehabilitation works, and forest fire management will help create climate-resilient villages.

4. Convergence and Saturation based Approach: To translate this vision into practice, the Act adopts a convergence and saturation- based approach that brings together complementary Government schemes within a single, coherent rural development architecture.

5. Modern, Technology enabled Governance: The Act establishes a modern, transparent and technology enabled governance Page 3 of 4architecture to ensure effective implementation, accountability and high integrity service delivery. Biometric authentication, spatial technology enabled planning, mobile and dashboard-based monitoring, weekly public disclosure systems and a strengthened Social Audit mechanism will contribute in ensuring transparency and accountability.

6. Securing peak agricultural seasons: States has been empowered to notify in advance, a period aggregating to 60 days in a financial year covering peak sowing and harvesting season during which works under the Act will not be undertaken, facilitating availability of sufficient farm labour during critical times.

7. Centrally Sponsored Scheme: It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with shared responsibilities between the Centre and States.

8. Normative Allocation: To promote inclusive growth and equitable distribution of financial resources in a fair manner, the Central Government will make Normative Allocation to each State based on objective parameters prescribed in the Rules. States will ensure transparent and need-based intra-state distribution of funds across districts and gram panchayats, taking into account the category of the panchayats and local developmental needs, thereby strengthening equity, transparency and accountability.

9. Special relaxations: During natural calamities or extraordinary circumstances, the Central Government may make temporary relaxations for timely response and relief.

10. Institutional Oversight: The Central Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Council and the State Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Councils will be responsible for review, monitoring and effective implementation of the provisions of the legislation in their respective areas. Steering committees at Central and State Level will be responsible to give recommendations on matters concerning normative allocations, convergence etc.

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