The Gujarat government has raised the monthly travel allowance for approximately 2,900 Gram Sevaks employed under the state Agriculture Department from ₹1,850 to ₹2,700 — a hike of ₹850 — citing their growing field responsibilities and the critical role they play in connecting farmers with government welfare programmes. The decision was announced on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, following a state Cabinet meeting in Gandhinagar chaired by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.

Cabinet Decision and Background

State government spokesperson and minister Jitu Vaghani confirmed the revision, noting that the enhancement came in direct response to a formal request from Gram Sevaks. Each Gram Sevak is assigned to cover four to five gram panchayats, with some handling more villages based on local requirements. The previous allowance of ₹1,850 had reportedly not kept pace with the steady expansion of their on-ground duties over recent years.

'Their work involves helping farmers access government schemes and agricultural assistance programmes, making them an important link between the state government and the farming community,' Vaghani said.

What Gram Sevaks Now Do

The scope of a Gram Sevak's responsibilities has widened considerably in recent years. Their current duties include conducting digital surveys through mobile applications to estimate crop acreage and production levels, and completing e-KYC formalities under the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana — a scheme that channels direct income support to landholding farmers. They also survey agricultural fields during natural disasters and heavy rainfall events to assess crop damage and guide affected farmers.

Beyond crisis response, Gram Sevaks help organise Krushi Mahotsavs and agricultural fairs, and facilitate outreach on minimum support price (MSP) procurement and natural farming campaigns. Vaghani noted that the growing number of landholding farmers in Gujarat has directly translated into heavier workloads for these ground-level officials.

Why This Matters for Rural Gujarat

Gram Sevaks function as the last-mile interface between state agricultural policy and the individual farmer. The expansion of digital and scheme-linked duties — particularly e-KYC under PM-Kisan — has made their role more technically demanding without a corresponding revision in field support payments, until now. This comes amid a broader national push to improve scheme saturation in rural areas, with Gujarat positioning its agricultural extension network as a key delivery mechanism.

Notably, the revision follows a period in which state governments across India have been under pressure to upgrade compensation for frontline rural workers as technology-linked field tasks multiply. The allowance revision does not affect basic pay structures but directly supports the cost of inter-village travel, which forms the bulk of a Gram Sevak's working day.

Impact and What Comes Next

The increased allowance is set to benefit all 2,900 Gram Sevaks covered under the Agriculture Department in Gujarat. The government indicated the revision is intended to improve the efficiency of field operations and strengthen the delivery of agricultural assistance to farmers across the state. No formal implementation date beyond the Cabinet's 21 October approval was specified, though such revisions typically take effect in the subsequent pay cycle.