Union Minister for Rural Development and Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Shivraj Singh Chauhan on Tuesday introduced the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) or VB–G RAM G Bill, 2025, in the Lok Sabha, proposing a statutory guarantee of 125 days of wage employment annually for rural families.
Presenting the Bill, Chauhan said the government remains committed to the welfare of the poor and the holistic development of villages, in line with Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of self-reliant and developed rural communities. He said the Centre has committed to spending over Rs 95,000 crore on the proposed initiative.
The minister said the Bill goes beyond employment generation and aims at comprehensive village development. He noted that earlier employment schemes such as the Jawahar Rozgar Yojana existed, but budgetary allocations for rural welfare were often uneven, leaving several panchayats underdeveloped. To address this, the Bill proposes grading of panchayats and allocation of more work to those that are less developed and underperforming.
Referring to MGNREGA, Chauhan said that while the previous UPA government spent Rs 2.13 lakh crore on the scheme, the current government has spent over Rs 8.53 lakh crore on welfare schemes for the poor and has worked to strengthen employment guarantees. He said the new Bill enhances the employment guarantee from 100 days to 125 days, backed by a provision of more than Rs 1.51 lakh crore.
The minister added that the Bill also seeks to address concerns about labour availability in agriculture by creating a better balance between agricultural and labour needs. He said the initiative draws inspiration from the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi and Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, with a focus on prioritising the welfare of the most backward and marginalised sections of society.
Chauhan said the proposed law would ensure dignity through employment and provide additional protection to the differently-abled, elderly, women, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. He added that the Bill is aimed at ensuring inclusive growth, strengthening rural livelihoods and accelerating the overall development of villages across the country.
