Guwahati: On Saturday, June 13, the Assam Cabinet approved the implementation modalities for the ‘Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Employment and Livelihood Mission (Rural) Act, 2025’ (VB-G RAM G). This paves the way for its statewide implementation starting July 1, 2026, with a budgetary allocation of ₹2,000 crore.
Briefing the media after the Cabinet meeting in Guwahati, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that under the new scheme, every rural household would receive 125 days of guaranteed wage employment. This exceeds the 90 days of employment previously provided under the ‘Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act’ (MGNREGA).
He noted that this new program shifts away from a model focused solely on employment toward one that emphasizes creating rural assets alongside supporting livelihoods.
Sarma said, “The Central Government has introduced the ‘Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Employment and Livelihood Mission (Rural)’ to replace MGNREGA in 2025. While the old scheme focused exclusively on employment, this new framework will facilitate asset creation alongside job generation.”
Explaining the implementation strategy, the Chief Minister stated that the objective is to ensure that government expenditure yields long-term developmental benefits at the village level.
He added, “Beyond providing employment, this scheme will also create sustainable assets in villages. The VB-G RAM G program will commence in Assam on July 1, and the Cabinet has approved ₹2,000 crore for the current year. On average, each Panchayat will be allocated approximately ₹1 crore, subject to minor variations based on the size of the Panchayat.” The government stated that these funds would be disbursed to panchayats through a structured system to facilitate grassroots-level development.
Sarma also mentioned that detailed guidelines would be issued to local bodies, enabling them to prioritize projects that create assets under this scheme.
He said, “We will issue guidelines for the panchayats to ensure development aligns with set targets. Priority will be given to infrastructure projects such as school boundary walls, cremation grounds, and village roads to ensure the effective utilization of funds.”
This initiative is expected to boost rural employment opportunities and strengthen village-level infrastructure through decentralized implementation.
