Centre to soon frame rules to integrate MGNREGA workers into VB-G RAM G

States will get a six-month transition window to notify and align with the new scheme once the Act is formally notified by the Centre

The central government will soon frame rules for seamless transition of existing MGNREGA workers into the newly enacted VB-G RAM G (Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Gramin) scheme. The rules could include accepting current e-KYC-enabled MGNREGA job cards in the new regime, and same job sites for work, senior officials said on Thursday. 

The new scheme, which will soon be notified by the Centre, will give states six months’ transition time. The rules for normative allocation of funds to the states will also be notified soon, one of the officials explained. 

“We would do everything possible to ensure that integration of existing MGNREGA workers into the new VB-G RAM G scheme is as hassle-free as possible,” the official said. He added that just like MGNREGA, the VB-G RAM G scheme would also be universal and demand-driven. 

On the argument that unlike MGNREGA, under VB-G RAM G, the Centre will have the power to notify or denotify any area in the country where it wants the scheme to continue or discontinue, the officials said similar provisions existed even in MGNREGA. 

“In MGNREGA, the Act clearly mentioned that the programme is applicable in the whole of India except for areas where the central legislation does not work. This was specifically for regions such as Jammu and Kashmir, where Article 370 prohibited application of many central Acts. Now that Article 370 does not exist, we did not feel the need to provide for this blanket approval,” the official explained. 

On categorisation of gram panchayats in categories A, B and C, the official said that it has been done to ensure the developmental needs of all panchayats are met uniformly. 

The categories will be determined based on certain parameters such as distance from the nearest urban centre, etc. However, these categories will be only an indicative guideline, not binding on the states, he explained. 

“We have a template scheme ready for states to adopt if they want to,” the official said. He said that to ensure transparency in VB-G RAM G, social audits have been institutionalised and made stricter. The scheme will be integrated with the “Panchayat Nirnay” app of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj. 

The official further said weekly public disclosure of work undertaken under VB-G RAM G will have to be made. There will be an “e-measurement” book to record all the payments made against the work done. 

“To ensure equitable distribution of central funds, two major steps have been taken. First is normative allocation of funds based on well-defined criteria for which rules are being framed. And second, it is through categorisation of panchayats into three categories,” the official explained.

 

He said the Centre’s share of funds will be around ₹95,000 crore for 2026-27 (FY27), which can be expanded if the demand rises, just as it has been happening in the case of MGNREGA. 

68K amrit sarovars  constructed under MGNREGA 

The Central government has already constructed almost 68,000 amrit sarovars under the MGNREGA scheme, as against the target of 50,000 such ponds, a senior government official informed. Out of all the completed amrit sarovars, around 23,000 were constructed at new sites, while more than 45,000 already existing ponds were rejuvenated as Amrit Sarovars, 

he said.