Is the VB G RAM G Act a Historic Step for Rural Development?
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Key Takeaways
Agartala, Jan 9 (NationPress) Tripura's Chief Minister, Manik Saha, referred to the VB G RAM G Act as a transformative milestone that will greatly enhance socio-economic development in rural India.
During a press conference held at the state BJP headquarters, he emphasized that the Act represents a modernized and progressive approach to rural growth, designed to address the flaws in previous employment guarantee schemes. The VB G RAM G Bill underwent thorough discussions in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.
“It is astonishing that, despite the Bill being passed after comprehensive debates in Parliament, the Opposition continues to voice the same concerns outside, sowing confusion among the public,” Saha remarked.
He highlighted the evolution of rural employment initiatives, noting that the Maharashtra Employment Guarantee Act of 1977 laid the groundwork for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA), which established a national legal framework for rural employment. However, he pointed out that MNREGA had numerous shortcomings.
“Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Central government has been consistently implementing reforms to enhance ease of doing, living, and doing business. The VB G RAM G Act seeks to replace MNREGA with a new structure that offers increased work guarantees, dedicated funding for rural development, and a strong emphasis on creating durable assets and infrastructure. Previously, employment was generated, but the work often lacked longevity,” he elaborated.
The Chief Minister added that the new framework ensures greater accountability within rural employment programs, with a Central commitment exceeding Rs 95,000 crore for its execution.
“This Bill signifies a pivotal change in India’s strategy towards rural employment and development. I express my gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his visionary approach to rural India. Development should not focus solely on urban areas; we need to prioritize villages for holistic growth,” Saha stated.
He further mentioned that the guaranteed workdays have been increased from 100 to 125 under the new Act, and delays in wage payments will no longer be tolerated. Decentralization through Gram Sabhas has also been reinforced.
“The new legislation emphasizes water conservation and security, asset creation, livelihood generation, rural infrastructure development, and mitigation of climate change,” the Chief Minister concluded.