Bhubaneswar: In a decisive movement toward the structural realization of a developed nation, the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Employment and Livelihood Mission Grameen, or the VB G Ram G Bill, has been formally enacted into law following its passage in Parliament.
During a Media Meet at the State BJP Headquarters, Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi provided a comprehensive synthesis of this legislative milestone, framed under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
Accompanied by BJP State President Manmohan Samal and Minister, Panchyati Raj and Rural Development, Shri Rabi Narayan Naik, Minister Parliamentary Affairs, Dr.Mukesh Mahaling, ST SC Development Minister, Shri Nityanand Gond, Chief Minister Shri Majhi dismissed opposition critiques as misinformation, reaffirming that this law serves as a vital instrument for the economic emancipation of the rural poor and the foundational growth of a developed India.
The Chief Minister underscored that the legal framework is meticulously designed to achieve the systemic goal of a developed India by 2047, effectively operationalizing Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of rural self-reliance through socio-legal precision.
In a critical examination of historical causality, Chief Minister Shri Majhi noted that while various employment initiatives have existed since the pre-independence era, they were frequently undermined by structural fragility, lack of administrative foresight, and systemic corruption. He specifically critiqued the previous UPA government’s MGNREGA framework, asserting that it functioned more as a tool for political leverage than as a genuine welfare mechanism. Citing instances of institutional failure, he highlighted how thousands of crores were misappropriated through fraudulent muster rolls and ghost beneficiaries in states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, with similar irregularities previously documented in Odisha’s Sambalpur district.
The newly enacted VB G Ram G law introduces rigorous corrective measures and technological safeguards to eliminate these legacy vulnerabilities. A primary shift in policy includes the expansion of the guaranteed employment period from 100 to 125 days, establishing a statutory right for rural households.
To ensure transparency and accountability, the Act integrates advanced technological interventions, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), GPS tracking, and mobile-based monitoring systems. Furthermore, the legislation exhibits an evidence-based approach to the agrarian cycle by mandating a 60-day suspension of works during peak sowing and harvesting seasons, thereby preventing labor shortages in the agricultural sector and stabilizing wage inflation.
The fiscal architecture of the mission is built on a cooperative federalist model, with a 60:40 cost-sharing ratio between the Centre and the States, ensuring heightened shared responsibility. The mission is strategically focused on four pillars: water security, rural infrastructure fortification, livelihood expansion, and climate resilience. Additionally, the law enforces a mandatory unemployment allowance if work is not provided within 15 days of requisition.