Dibrugarh: Union minister of state for external affairs Pabitra Margherita addressed a press conference in Jorhat on Thursday, highlighting the newly enacted Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB–G RAM G) Act, 2025 as a revolutionary step toward bolstering rural livelihoods and promoting inclusive growth across India, including in Assam.Addressing journalists, Margherita emphasised the Act’s core provisions, which elevate guaranteed employment under rural schemes from 100 to 125 days annually.“This transformative legislation ensures timely wage payments, aligns public works with agricultural cycles, strengthens transparency through cutting-edge technology, and prioritises durable asset creation for long-term rural prosperity,” he said, highlighting its potential to empower millions in agrarian heartlands like Assam’s tea gardens and flood-prone districts.The minister praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visionary leadership in pushing this reform, which builds on the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) by integrating digital tools for real-time monitoring and grievance redressal. Margherita highlighted how the Act promotes “dignity of labour” while syncing job opportunities with local farming seasons, reducing migration distress.“I commend Union rural development minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for his committed leadership in steering a reform that aligns employment generation with productivity, accountability, and sustainable rural growth,” Margherita added. Chouhan, a key architect of the Bill, has championed tech-driven upgrades, including Aadhaar-linked payments and GIS-mapped projects to curb leakages.The Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB–G RAM G) Act, 2025 is a major legislative reform enacted to replace the 20-year-old MGNREGA. It increases the statutory employment guarantee from 100 to 125 days per rural household annually to provide stronger income security.To prevent labour shortages for farmers, the Act introduces a 60-day agricultural pause during peak sowing and harvesting seasons. It shifts rural works toward creating durable, high-quality assets like water conservation systems and climate-resilient infrastructure. Additionally, the Act mandates advanced technology, including biometric authentication to ensure transparency and eliminate “ghost” entries in the system.
