• Dream of a Developed India can only be realized through the empowerment of its villages : Union Minister of State Shri Tokhan Sahu
• Villages to Become the Epicenter of Development, Decision-Making, and Accountability Under the New Act
Bilaspur : The Press Information Bureau, Raipur, under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, organized a one-day regional media workshop, ‘Vartaalap’, in Bilaspur today. The Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs, Shri Tokhan Sahu, attended the event as the Chief Guest. The central theme of the workshop was the ‘Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Employment and Livelihood Mission (Gramin)’ (VB-GRAM G), a landmark initiative by the Central Government aimed at the economic and social transformation of rural India.
Addressing the gathering, Shri Sahu stated that the VB-GRAM G Act, 2025, is not merely a scheme but a modern framework linking rural development with the vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat’. He emphasized that the mission is built on the foundation of freeing the rural economy from middlemen, ensuring Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), and empowering Gram Sabhas with real decision-making powers.
Highlighting the features of the mission, the Union Minister noted that the Act transcends the limitations of traditional employment schemes by guaranteeing 125 days of assured wage employment per financial year, up from the previous 100 days. To ensure economic empowerment, the wage payment process has been accelerated to a weekly (07-day) cycle. The mission focuses on creating modern infrastructure and sustainable productive assets to increase the income of the last person in rural areas.
Shri Sahu further added, “Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Viksit Bharat @2047’ is commendable, and we will work together for a developed India. Under the VB-GRAM G Act, Gram Panchayats will be categorized into A, B, and C based on development parameters. To provide a new impetus, Gram Panchayats are being integrated with the ‘PM Gati Shakti Mission’ for synchronized planning and execution across various line departments. Our goal is to bring development to the grassroots through a synergy of technology and vision.”
During the program, Anuradha Shukla, Assistant Project Officer (MGNREGA), Zila Panchayat Bilaspur, remarked, “The VB-GRAM G Mission will be a milestone for income security in rural areas. The increase in guaranteed employment to 125 days is a 25 percent jump from before. Our priority is the creation of durable assets like water security and rural infrastructure. To ensure transparency, we are utilizing Artificial Intelligence and GPS-based monitoring systems to eliminate financial leakages”.
A detailed presentation on the technical aspects of the Act revealed that this reform aligns rural employment with the 2047 vision. Key focus areas include water security, core rural infrastructure, livelihood-related infrastructure, and climate resilience. The implementation will feature AI-based systems, digital attendance, geo-tagging, and biometric authentication to ensure total transparency. Furthermore, the administrative fund limit has been increased from 6 percent to 9 percent to facilitate smoother operations and capacity building of officials.
The workshop concluded with an interactive Q&A session where journalists inquired about the nuances of the Act, regional development, and various development steps in Chhattisgarh. The ‘Vartaalap’ program successfully highlighted the government’s visionary plans and strengthened the synergy between the administration and the media for the inclusive growth of rural Chhattisgarh.
